Luke Littler has declared “the clean sweep is definitely on” as he prepares to end his Players Championship hiatus with a return to the ProTour in Leicester for events 27 and 28. The 19-year-old, who has been absent from floor events all year, will compete at the Mattioli Arena on Tuesday 25th August, with time running out to qualify for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
Littler is enjoying a season for the ages, having already claimed the PDC World Darts Championship, Winmau World Masters, UK Open, Premier League Darts, World Cup of Darts and the World Matchplay in 2026. His World Matchplay run was particularly dominant, producing a tournament average of 111.04 in the Winter Gardens. His only ranking loss this year came against Niels Zonneveld at the Belgian Darts Open, having won the Poland Darts Open in his two European Tour appearances.
Despite his success, Littler has yet to play a single Players Championship event this year, leaving him on £0 in the Players Championship Order of Merit. With just six events remaining, he needs deep runs to have any chance of securing a spot in the top 64. Martin Schindler currently occupies the final qualifying place with £25,500, a tally that will rise as each tournament offers £15,000 to the winner.
Reflecting on his return, Littler said: “Obviously there have been crucial moments in tournaments that I’ve gone on to win where, in the first round, players have missed one dart at double to beat me. Then I go on to win the game. Sometimes it can get really, really close. Last-leg deciders, winning by two clear legs. Everyone knows I’ve got to go to the Leicester ProTours. The next one to look for is the World Series in Amsterdam.”
After the World Series of Darts Finals, Littler plans to stay in the Netherlands for another brace of ProTour events in Den Bosch, on condition he wins in Amsterdam. “If I win that, then it’s Monday and Tuesday in Den Bosch for more ProTours. We’re looking further into it,” he confirmed. “The clean sweep is definitely on.” Two further events in Den Bosch could follow before Players Championship events 33 and 34 conclude the floor season in Leicester.
