"Back to bed it is, wonder who they are gonna call up": Luke Littler withdraws just 90 minutes before Players Championship 33 in traffic jam

Luke Littler was due to play in today's penultimate Players Championship of the season in Wigan but it appears he has failed to make registration for the tournament as he sent a story on Instagram saying that he was going home.

Littler appeared to be behind another car on his way to the venue and seemingly in a traffic jam albeit being in nearby Warrington, he likely was cutting it fine with getting there on time.

"Back to bed it is, wonder who they are gonna call up," he wrote on social media jokingly. Whether he still plays tomorrow is another matter. Littler was originally not qualified for the Players Championship Finals next month but has now done enough sitting in 34th spot in the Order of Merit but of course wants to be higher for the draw and was seemingly playing in this week's double header to achieve a better position.

Currently based on him not playing again this week, he would open up against Luke Woodhouse in the opening round. Top seed Gerwyn Price as first seed would currently play 64th which is Lukas Wenig. He is part of the contingent in Wigan this week alongside Luke Humphries who is qualified but only just as well as Stephen Bunting.

Michael van Gerwen is one of the top names not involved and won't play in Minehead at all. He is on a family holiday in Dubai before next week's Grand Slam of Darts and left after one event last time out giving up his Minehead chances. Littler though has seemingly given up his chances of playing today as he will not appear in the draw.