LITTLER COULD BECOME WORLD No1 AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

LUKE LITTLER could rise to world No.1 for the first time at this weekend’s European Championship.  

‘The Nuke’ is aiming to leapfrog Luke Humphries at the top of the PDC Order of Merit.  

Teen sensation Littler is currently £52,500 behind ‘Cool Hand’ and they are seeded to clash in the quarter-finals at Dortmund.  

Warrington thrower Littler could become the best player on the planet if he did beat Humphries and go on to make the final.  

But if Humphries suffers an early exit to Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, Littler would only need to make the semi-finals to take over the top spot. 

Seven-time major winner Littler opens his campaign against Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld on Thursday night at the iconic Westfalenhallen Arena. 

Yet Littler will have to keep his cool in front of a crowd that hasn’t always welcomed him warmly. 

Littler had threatened not to play events in Germany after being jeered by fans during a number of recent competitions, including a defeat to Gian van Geen in the Munich Grand Prix semi-finals back in April. 

The 18-year-old once again faced boos and hostility from the German crowd as he and Humphries were stunned by the host nation in a first-round World Cup exit in Frankfurt just two months later. 

Gerwyn Price is set to renew his rivalry with Daryl Gurney in their first match since their fiery World Matchplay showdown in Blackpool. 

Premier League stars Rob Cross and Nathan Aspinall face off in a blockbuster round one bout. 

Reigning European champion Ritchie Edhouse failed to qualify for the tournament and became the first player in history to not defend his title. 

World No. 4 Stephen Bunting takes on Chris Dobey, as Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies clash in an all-Scottish affair. 

Ross Smith and Peter Wright also go head-to-head in a battle of the former European Champions. 

World Youth Champion Gian van Veen and Australian number one Damon Heta collide for a place in round two.

Image by Taylor Lanning.