Luke Littler's hopes of qualifying for the Players Championship finals in November took a hit on Tuesday as he was defeated by Jermaine Wattimena in the quarter-finals of PC27 in Leicester. The 19-year-old, playing in his first Pro Tour event of 2026, was forced into a last-leg decider, with the Dutchman hitting a 115 checkout to claim his first victory in six meetings against Littler on the PDC tour.
Despite the defeat, Littler was in a positive mood afterwards, posting "on the move" on Instagram. The loss comes as a significant setback for the World Matchplay champion, who is aiming to complete a calendar sweep of ranking events in 2026. Qualification for November's finals is crucial for Littler, as the top 64 players in the Players Championship order of merit earn a spot at Minehead.
Littler, who skipped the first 26 events on the circuit, currently sits in 141st place after claiming £4,000 on Tuesday. He is £22,250 behind 64th-placed Mario Vandenbogaerde. With seven Players Championship events remaining, including one on Wednesday at the same venue, Littler has limited opportunities to climb the rankings. However, he has previously stated his intention to only feature in UK events, meaning he would only have three more chances to improve his position.
Victory at one of the remaining events would earn Littler £15,000, while runners-up receive £10,000. With the clock ticking, every match now carries added weight for the young star as he looks to secure his place in the prestigious finals.
