Darts
Luke Littler makes progress in bid to reach Players Championship finals
Luke Littler made up some more ground in his bid to qualify for the Players Championships finals as he reached the semi-finals of the 28th event.
The world number one is playing catch-up after skipping the first 26 low-key floor events in 2026 in order to manage his schedule.
However, having won the first six major titles of the year, he is aiming for a clean sweep and that would require him to qualify for the Players Championships finals in November.
The top 64 make Minehead based on prize money after all 34 events and the projected cut-off is over £30,000.
He kicked off with just £4,000 on Tuesday as he was beaten in the quarter-final and he only went one better 24 hours later with a run to the semi-final.
The 19-year-old was beaten 7-4 by Brendan Dolan, which saw him add £6,500 to his total.
That leaves him way down in 125th in the standings and with work to do.
The winner of each event scoops £15,000 and Littler hoped to get the bulk of his required winnings during 48 hours in the midlands.
Whether he continues his pursuit will depend on how he fares in the World Series finals in September.
If he wins in Amsterdam, to continue his clean sweep attempt, he will then travel to Den Bosch for events 29 and 30 in September to further boost his coffers, before another two events in Leicester.
But if he is not the World Series champion and he cannot win every major title this year, he is unlikely to try and qualify for Minehead.
The teenager is well known for not enjoying floor events and that has shown over the last two days.
He made light work of Stephen Rosney in the first round, winning 6-4, before his day nearly ended in the next round as he survived six match darts against world number 107 Benjamin Pratnemer, eventually winning a final-leg decider.
Quickfire wins against Martin Schindler, Andy Boulton and Krzysztof Ratajski sent him through to the last four, but Dolan was too good for him.
Littler’s great rival Luke Humphries virtually assured himself of a place at Minehead as he beat Dolan 7-5 in the final to claim £15,000.
