Luke Littler provided an update following his absence from the second-to-last Players Championship event of 2025. The 18-year-old was set to compete in PC33 at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan but missed the registration deadline due to being stuck in traffic. Consequently, he had to forfeit his spot in the tournament lineup.
Instead of participating in the event, Littler shared on Instagram that he decided to have Chinese food at a restaurant while his darting counterparts, including Luke Humphries, were on stage. Later, he explained the reason for his tardiness, citing a road traffic incident on the M6 in Wigan where a man tragically lost his life.
Emergency services were dispatched to the M6 between the Bryn Interchange and Orrell/M58 junction 26 following the incident. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the man’s death and stated that investigations were ongoing at the scene.
Despite missing PC33, Littler’s victory in PC32 secured his spot in the upcoming £600,000 Players Championship finals in Minehead. Initially facing concerns about not making the finals weekend due to his ranking dropping outside the top 64, Littler’s impressive performance in PC32, where he defeated several opponents, ensured his qualification for the finals.
After his PC32 win, Littler silenced critics who doubted his ability to secure a top 64 spot and compete for the £120,000 top prize. Following his World Grand Prix championship win and a recent loss at the European Championship, Littler remains a prominent figure in the darts world.
