Luke Littler will be missing from the star-studded cast at the Bet Victor World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt this weekend - because the teams are based on the order of merit.
World champion Luke Humphries and Michael Smith, ranked No.1 and No.3 in the world respectively, will fly the flag for England in the four-day tournament with 40 countries chasing the £80,000 winner’s prize.
Despite being the hottest ticket on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit since his fairytale run to the World Championship final at Alexandra Palace six months ago, 17-year-old Littler was never likely to be involved.
Climbing the PDC rankings at No.25, Luke the Nuke did not fail to qualify for the World Cup - because he was never in the running.
Although he won the Premier League last month, his £315,000 prize money did not improve his place on the order of merit ladder because it is an invitational tournament outside the ranking system.
In Littler’s absence, top seeds England are favourites to win their fifth World Cup of Darts - and their first since Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis won it four times between 2012-16. Taylor said: “I’m surprised we haven’t won it since Adrian and I were England’s double act.
“I always loved playing at the World Cup because on the PDC circuit it’s every man for himself and last man standing takes home the loot. But this is a chance to represent your country, and a lot of people don’t realise how much it means to stand top there in an England shirt.
“It used to bring out the patriot in me and it was always great fun playing with Aidy. Maybe it was partly because we come from the same city, Stoke-on-Trent, that we got along so well, but in 2013 even we couldn’t match the Belgians for team spirit even if we beat them 3-1 in the final — because their team was from the same family, Kim and Ronny Huybrechts.
“But it’s a good format, singles and doubles, and I loved playing for England. Don’t worry about Luke - his time will come to play at the World Cup. People forget it’s only his first season as a professional.”
Top seeds England, Scotland, Wales and the Netherlands go straight into Saturday’s knockout phase in the second round. The other 36 nations must qualify as winners of their groups. Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton are the holders after wining Wales’ second World Cup of Darts 12 months ago.
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