LITTLER EASES FEARS OVER WORLD CUP SNUB

By Aaron Nijjar

LUKE LITTLER has allayed fears he might skip the World Cup of Darts by confirming he WILL wear the England shirt next month. 

There had been concerns ‘The Nuke’ might not play alongside Luke Humphries in Frankfurt between June 12-15. 

Teen sensation Littler is not involved in the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen, Germany, this weekend but that is a decision made by his management team to manage his monthly schedule. 

However, for some reason he has been booed and greeted with hostility by German crowds – it happened in Berlin on a Premier League night and then at the German Darts Grand Prix over Easter in Munich. 

Following that last defeat overseas, a frustrated Littler said he would not return to the country until the European Championship in Dortmund in October. 

He wrote on Instagram: “Shouldn’t of been in Munich but had to play anyway, next one in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say that.” 

Yet following a record FIFTH Premier League night success on Thursday in Birmingham, he said there was never any doubt he would miss a maiden World Cup appearance. 

Five-time major winner Littler said: “I was always playing. Luke wants to go back-to-back. And I want to win it for the first time. 

“Even though it’s not a major, it is still a big event. You are playing for your country.” 

Proud Englishmen Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis were World Cup winners four times between 2012-16. 

World No. 1 Luke Humphries and former World champion Michael Smith lifted the title in 2024 after an eight-year absence for England. 

Warrington thrower Littler, who leads the Premier League table with 35 points, faces Nathan Aspinall next week in the quarter-finals in Leeds. 

Littler is trying to set a record for most points in a Prem season – he holds the joint-record of 40 points with Jonny Clayton (2022).

Image by Taylor Lanning.