Luke Littler Qualifies for PDC Players Championship Finals After Victory in Wigan
Wigan,England – Luke Littler,18,has secured his place at the prestigious PDC Players Championship Finals in Minehead,Somerset,following an impressive 8-2 win over Dennie Olde Kalter at Robin Park leisure Center on Wednesday. Littler’s dominant performance included 10 maximum 180s and an average of 110.73.
This qualification marks a significant step in the young darts player’s burgeoning career, propelling him into contention with the top 64 players on the PDC circuit. The Players Championship Finals, held November 21-23, represent a major opportunity for Littler to compete against established professionals and further solidify his position within the sport. He began Wednesday ranked 67th in the Players Championship standings.
Littler’s path to the final included victories over Dylan Slevin (6-4), Jeffrey de Graaf (6-4), Adam Lipscombe (6-0), Adam Hunt (6-4), and a commanding 7-4 semi-final win against world number four Stephen Bunting, where he averaged over 109. “I’m really happy to come away with a win,” Littler said. “At the start of the day it was just about getting through the early stages, and you need to believe in yourself.” He also averaged 102 across all seven matches on Wednesday.
Dutchman Dennie Olde Kalter, 33, also enjoyed a prosperous run to his first PDC final, defeating Marvin van Velzen (6-3), niels Zonneveld (6-1), Dirk van Duijvenbode (6-5), Scott waites (6-1), Nathan Aspinall (6-4), and Jermaine Wattimena (7-3). Wattimena was fresh off a Players Championship 31 victory on Tuesday,having defeated Aspinall in the final.
The qualification comes at the expense of veteran Michael van Gerwen, 36, a three-time world champion, who will miss the finals for the first time after falling outside the top 64 and withdrawing from Wednesday’s competition, and the final two events in Wigan on October 29 and 30. Littler added, ”I know I’ve got the capabilities to come from behind in matches and that’s what I did yet again… Trying to qualify for Minehead was at the back of my mind.I had seen some people on social media say I wasn’t going to make it, but I’m very happy with the way I played.”
