Luke Littler will compete at the Players Championship Finals

Darts results: Luke Littler picks up his first Players Championship title of the season to seal his qualification for the Minehead major next month

By Sporting Life

Darts

Wed October 22, 2025 · 1w ago

Luke Littler emphatically ended fears that he may miss next month's Players Championship Finals in Minehead by storming to victory at PC 32.

The world champion and newly crowned World Grand Prix champion headed into the day languishing outside the top 64 spots with just three more Pro Tour events to play due to the fact he'd only played in 10 of the previous 31.

Having suffered a first-round defeat to Ritchie Edhouse in Tuesday's event, pressure was beginning to mount but in true Littler fashion, he answered his critics with a string of fine displays which culminated in an 8-2 triumph over Dennie Olde Kalter in the final with an average of 111.

The Nuke had also overcome Stephen Bunting 7-4 in the semi-finals with a breathtaking average of 109.

"The likes of Van Veen & Keane Barry were in it but I'm the one who gets it in the neck. I didn't win so obviously a lot of people were happy."

Luke Littler responds to those who criticised him for entering World Youth Champs after winning today's PC 32
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180)

“I’m really happy to come away with a win,” reflected Littler, who is now £11,000 above the qualification cut-off with two events remaining.

“I’m a bit angry it was only a 15-darter to finish with, because I knew my average felt really good!

“At the start of the day it was just about getting through the early stages, and you need to believe in yourself.

“I know I’ve got the capabilities to come from behind in matches and that’s what I did yet again today.

“Trying to qualify for Minehead was at the back of my mind. I had seen some people on social media say I wasn’t going to make it, but I’m very happy with the way I played today.”

Littler's exploits stole the headlines in Wigan, but it was also a landmark day for Olde Kalter, who claimed a host of big-name scalps to pocket the £10,000 runner-up prize.

The unheralded Dutchman had lost 25 of his 29 opening round matches on the ProTour this year, but he underlined his credentials with a hat-trick of wins over his fellow countrymen Marvin van Velzen, Niels Zonneveld and Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Victories over former Grand Slam champion Scott Waites and Premier League star Nathan Aspinall followed, before he halted Jermaine Wattimena's bid for back-to-back titles with a resounding 7-3 win in their all-Dutch semi-final.

That brought an end to Wattimena's 12-match winning run in Wigan, after the European Championship runner-up posted ton-topping averages in wins over Rob Cross and Chris Dobey in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

Players Championship 32 results

Last 16

Stephen Bunting 6-2 Niko Springer
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Cor Dekker
Luke Littler 6-4 Adam Hunt
Rhys Griffin 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Chris Dobey 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 Rob Cross
Dennie Olde Kalter 6-1 Scott Waites
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Damon Heta

Quarter-Finals

Stephen Bunting 6-2 Wessel Nijman
Luke Littler 6-3 Rhys Griffin
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Chris Dobey
Dennie Olde Kalter 6-4 Nathan Aspinall

Semi-Finals

Luke Littler 7-4 Stephen Bunting
Dennie Olde Kalter 7-3 Jermaine Wattimena

Final

Luke Littler 8-2 Dennie Olde Kalter

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