Luke Littler has the opportunity to reach the summit of the PDC World Rankings this weekend. The Machineseeker European Championship kicks off in Dortmund on Thursday night, gathering the top 32 players from the 2025 European Tour rankings to vie for a share of the £600,000 prize pool.
Renowned players like Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, and Gerwyn Price will initiate the first round of the PDC Premier Event. Following them, Littler, Luke Humphries, and Nathan Aspinall will showcase their skills on the oche on Friday evening. The tournament progresses with round two on Saturday, culminating in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final on Sunday.
The champion of the Machineseeker European Championship will walk away with £120,000, while the runner-up secures £60,000. Semi-finalists will pocket £40,000 each, and quarter-finalists will earn £25,000.
Competitors exiting in the second or first round will still receive £15,000 and £7,500, respectively. With substantial winnings at stake, Littler stands a chance to surpass Humphries and seize the top position.
‘The Nuke’ is in close contention with ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ who currently holds the world’s number one ranking. To dethrone Humphries, Littler must bridge the £52,500 earnings gap.
In the event that his rival, the reigning world no.1, faces an early defeat to Krzysztof Ratajski in the initial round, Littler achieving a spot in the semi-finals would create a £5,000 deficit. However, this feat is easier said than done.
The young talent has encountered challenges with German crowds previously. During the Berlin Premier League in April, Littler faced hostility and made gestures post-match after losing to Chris Dobey. Moreover, a loss to Gian van Veen in the German Darts Grand Prix semi-finals over Easter led Littler to express relief about not returning soon via social media.
Looking ahead to the PDC World Darts Championship, Littler eyes the opportunity to claim the world no.1 title later in the year. In a recent interview, he emphasized his determination to secure the top spot.
“This is my time, and I must persist,” Littler stated. “I won’t consider myself the best until I attain the world number one status. The current number one is undeniably the best in the world.
“With just a £70,000 prize money gap between Luke and me, and considering he has to defend his earnings from the Grand Prix, Players Championships, and World Championship, I see a chance to claim the top spot before the World Championship. I need to maintain my momentum and exert pressure on Luke.”
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Thursday, October 23 – Round One
Ryan Joyce vs. Luke Woodhouse
Ross Smith vs. Peter Wright
Gian van Veen vs. Damon Heta
Gerwyn Price vs. Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton vs. Ryan Searle
Martin Schindler vs. Dave Chisnall
Wessel Nijman vs. Michael van Gerwen
Stephen Bunting vs. Chris Dobey
Friday, October 24 – Round One x8
Niko Springer vs. Jermaine Wattimena
Gary Anderson vs. Cameron Menzies
James Wade vs. Mike De Decker
Josh Rock vs. Ricardo Pietreczko
Luke Humphries vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Littler vs. Raymond van Barneveld
Nathan Aspinall vs. Rob Cross
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Danny Noppert