Newly-crowned World Grand Prix champion Luke Littler has suffered a significant blow in his hopes of qualifying for November’s Gamers Championship Finals after a shock first-round exit on the ProTour by the hands of Ritchie Edhouse.
Littler continued his domination of the sport by beating rival Luke Humphries within the remaining of the World Grand Prix on Sunday.
It was the 18-year-old’s fourth main title of the 12 months following his successes on the World Championship, UK Open and World Matchplay.
Nonetheless, he noticed his profitable run delivered to a halt as he was edged out by Beau Greaves in a last-leg decider within the semi-finals of the PDC World Youth Championship in Wigan on Monday.
He suffered his second successive loss, regardless of a mean of 106.45, at Gamers Championship 31 in opposition to reigning European champion Edhouse, who triumphed 6-4 in Wigan.
It is a main blow for ‘The Nuke’, who continues to be preventing for a spot in Minehead subsequent month with simply three occasions left.
May Littler fail to qualify for the Gamers Championship Finals?
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Highlights of the World Grand Prix remaining match between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries
There are simply three of the 34 Gamers Championship occasions left within the PDC ProTour season, with a Gamers Championship order of advantage – primarily based on prize cash earned from these one-day tournaments – deciding the gamers who qualify to function on the Butlin’s Minehead Resort from 21-23 November.
Occasions will probably be held on the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan on Wednesday, forward of the ultimate Gamers Championship occasions on the identical venue on October 29 and October 30, with solely the highest 64 on the rating checklist after that cut-off qualifying to compete on the Finals.
Every Gamers Championship occasion has a primary prize of £15,000 and gives £10,000 to the runner-up, with semi-finalist incomes £5,000, quarter finalists selecting up £3,500 and £2,500 out there to these dropping within the last-16.
These eradicated within the last-32 gather £1,500 and a second-round exit earns £1,000, whereas these knocked out within the first spherical – or selecting to not function – earn no cash and threat falling additional down the rankings.
Gerwyn Worth tops the Order of Benefit after profitable 4 Gamers Championship titles already in 2025, however Littler sits exterior the highest 64 on £17,500 earlier than Tuesday’s motion and in peril of failing to qualify.
Keane Barry at the moment sits at No 64 with £22,000 that means Littler must make up £5,500 within the remaining occasions.
First prize or a runner-up spot within the remaining occasions would all however assure his spot at Minehead.
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