Luke Littler and top players withdraw from Den Bosch tournaments

A significant number of world-class professional darts players have withdrawn from the upcoming Players Championship 31 and 32 events in Den Bosch, Netherlands. Scheduled for October 28 and 29, these tournaments represent one of the final opportunities for players to qualify for the Players Championship Finals.

Notable absences include reigning world champion Luke Littler, as well as Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Gary Anderson, Josh Rock, and Ross Smith. Littler’s absence significantly impacts his standing; he currently sits 126th in the Players Championship Order of Merit and would require near-perfect performances in the final two events in Leicester to qualify for the finals.

Other high-profile players opting out include Stephen Bunting, Rob Cross, and Ryan Joyce. Meanwhile, players such as Nathan Aspinall and Raymond van Barneveld remain in contention as they compete to secure a spot within the top 64.