Luke Littler can oust Luke Humphries this week as he faces German boo boys again
Luke Littler has the opportunity to finally leapfrog Luke Humphries and become the darts world No.1 this weekend, but the German crowds won't make it easy for the teenage sensation
Luke Littler could climb to the top of the PDC World Rankings this weekend. On Thursday night, the Machineseeker European Championship will get underway in Dortmund as the top 32 players on the 2025 European Tour rankings compete for a piece of silverware and a total prize purse of £600,000.
The likes of Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, and Gerwyn Price will open the first round of the PDC Premier Event before Littler, Luke Humphries, and Nathan Aspinall take to the oche on Friday evening. Round two will take place on Saturday, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final being played on Sunday.
The winner of the Machineseeker European Championship will take home £120,000, with the runner-up claiming £60,000. The semi-final losers will receive £40,000, and quarter-finalists will get £25,000.
Those who crash out in the second or first round will earn £15,000 and £7,500, respectively. With big money up for grabs, Littler has the opportunity to leapfrog Humphries and claim top-spot.
Not much separates 'The Nuke' from 'Cool Hand Luke', who's currently ranked first in the world. In order to knock Humphries off his perch, Littler will have to bridge the £52,500 gap in earnings.
If his rival and reigning world no.1 suffers an early defeat to Pole Krzysztof Ratajski in the first round, a semi-final spot for Littler would be sufficient, creating a £5,000 gap. It's easier said than done, though.
The 18-year-old has previously had problems with crowds in Germany. In April, Littler received a hostile reception at the Berlin Premier League, to which he responded with some choice gestures after losing to Chris Dobey.
He also lost to Gian van Veen in the semi-finals of the German Darts Grand Prix over Easter. Shortly after the match, Littler claimed that he was glad he wouldn't be returning any time soon in a post on social media.
With the PDC World Darts Championship on the horizon, the teenager will have an opportunity to claim world no.1 later in the year. Speaking to reporters at the start of the month, Littler outlined his plan to claim top spot.
"This is my time and I've got just got to keep going," he said. "Obviously, until I get that world number one spot, I will never call myself the best in the world. Whoever's number one, they're the best.
"But knowing I'm only £70,000 in prize money behind Luke, and then he's got to defend all of his prize money from the Grand Prix, the Players Championships and the World Championship.
"I don't want to think about it too much, but I could be world number one before that World Championship. I've just got to keep chucking away and put as much pressure as I can on Luke."
The 2025 Machineseeker European Championship schedule of play
Thursday, October 23 – Round One
Ryan Joyce v Luke Woodhouse Ross Smith v Peter WrightGian van Veen v Damon HetaGerwyn Price v Daryl GurneyJonny Clayton v Ryan SearleMartin Schindler v Dave ChisnallWessel Nijman v Michael van GerwenStephen Bunting v Chris Dobey
Friday, October 24 – Round One x8
Niko Springer v Jermaine WattimenaGary Anderson v Cameron MenziesJames Wade v Mike De DeckerJosh Rock v Ricardo PietreczkoLuke Humphries v Krzysztof RatajskiLuke Littler v Raymond van BarneveldNathan Aspinall v Rob CrossDirk van Duijvenbode v Danny Noppert