Luke Littler bounced again from his current defeats to choose up an important Gamers Championship 32 title in Wigan.
Off the again of his World Youth Championship semi-final defeat to Beau Greaves and an early Gamers Championship 31 loss to Ritchie Edhouse, Littler responded with an outright victory to qualify for subsequent month’s Finals in Minehead.
Having crushed Stephen Bunting 7-4 within the semi-finals on Wednesday, Littler went on to defeat unheralded Dutch participant Dennie Olde Kalter 8-2 within the closing.
The enhance is a well timed one for the newly-crowned World Grand Prix champion, who had been scrambling to achieve November’s Gamers Championship Finals after Tuesday’s first-round exit in Wigan in Occasion 31 left him exterior the 64 qualification spots with three occasions to go.
Littler’s 6-4 defeat to reigning European champion Edhouse in Occasion 31 – which was in the end gained by Jermaine Wattimena – put him 73rd within the Gamers Championship standings, £2,500 adrift of the Sixty fourth-ranked Niko Springer.
However The Nuke’s title win at Occasion 32 elevated him to thirty fourth within the standings and despatched him although forward of the common Gamers Championship marketing campaign concluding with back-to-back tournaments on October 29 and 30, additionally in Wigan, with the Finals in Minehead throughout November 21-23.
“That’s always in the back of my mind [qualification for Players Championship Finals] and I’m on social media with some people saying I’m not going to make it. There you go, I’ve won it today,” Littler mentioned following victory.
“I’ll maybe play the last two events out, I’ll see how I feel.
“You’ve got simply received to imagine your self. I do know I’ve the capabilities to come back from behind, and that occurred once more at this time. I am studying as the times go on.
“I didn’t win [at the World Youth Championship], obviously a lot of people were happy, but I just thought I’d come and get used to playing first to five, first to six. That’s what I’ve done today and yesterday.”
Busy few days for Littler on and off the board
Littler beat beat Humphries within the World Grand Prix closing on Sunday, earlier than shedding to Greaves within the World Youth Championship semi-finals a day later.
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Highlights of the World Grand Prix closing match between Littler and Luke Humphries
Earlier than Littler’s defeat to Edhouse on Tuesday, it was introduced that the 18-year-old would now be managed by Goal Darts, his darts provider throughout his rise to the highest.
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Simply sooner or later after profitable the World Grand Prix, Littler misplaced to Beau Greaves 6-5 within the World Youth Championship semi-finals
Littler cut up from ZXF Sports activities forward of the World Grand Prix in Leicester after being with that administration firm since 2020.
Writing on X, Littler mentioned about strengthening his bond with Goal: “Target have been with me from the start and proud to have them managing me now. Onwards with the best brand in the game.”
Littler’s World Grand Prix triumph earned him a fourth PDC main title of 2025 and seventh of his profession, with {the teenager} now out to defend his Grand Slam of Darts crown when that competitors is held in Wolverhampton from November 8-16, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
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Will we see Greaves at Ally Pally after Littler victory?
How do you earn cash in Gamers Championship occasions?
Every Gamers Championship occasion has a primary prize of £15,000 and affords £10,000 to the runner-up, with semi-finalists incomes £5,000, quarter finalists £3,500 and £2,500 obtainable to these shedding within the final 16.
These eradicated within the final 32 acquire £1,500 and a second-round exit earns £1,000, whereas these knocked out within the first spherical – or selecting to not characteristic – earn no cash.
Gerwyn Worth tops the Order of Benefit after profitable 4 Gamers Championship titles this yr, with Damon Heta, Ross Smith, Gian van Veen and Occasion 31 champion Wattimena rounding out the highest 5.
Gamers Championship 32 outcomes – closing rounds
Ultimate
Luke Littler 8-2 Dennie Olde Kalter
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 7-4 Stephen Bunting
Dennie Olde Kalter 7-3 Jermaine Wattimena
Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Wessel Nijman
Luke Littler 6-3 Rhys Griffin
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Chris Dobey
Dennie Olde Kalter 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Final 16
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Niko Springer
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Cor Dekker
Luke Littler 6-4 Adam Hunt
Rhys Griffin 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Chris Dobey 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 Rob Cross
Dennie Olde Kalter 6-1 Scott Waites
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Damon Heta
Watch the Grand Slam of Darts dwell on Sky Sports activities from November 8-16, earlier than the World Darts Championship runs from December 11-January 3. Stream darts and extra contract-free with NOW.
