"Don't like the let's just pick our favourite": Change shouldn't happen to let Luke Littler play World Cup of Darts says Richard Ashdown

The World Cup of Darts will kick off in Frankfurt next Thursday. Major absentee in this competition is Luke Littler.

At the World Cup of Darts, the best two Tour Card holders from each country may compete. In countries where there are not two Tour Card holders, a qualifying tournament is usually played to designate the players who may represent their country.

For England this year, Luke Humphries and Michael Smith, ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the world respectively, are competing at the World Cup of Darts. That means that darts fans around the world will have to miss Luke Littler. After all, the 17-year-old sensation currently ranks "only" 25th in the world rankings.

There have been calls among darts fans to change the qualification criteria for the World Cup of Darts. However, Richard Ashdown who is a well known master of ceremonies, referee and spotter both for WDF/BDO previously and now PDC has reservations about this. "Having a fixed criteria saves the argument. There's no disputing it. The only other way you could do it is like the other major tournaments.

"You could have the highest ranked and also the highest on form. So the one year ranking if you're going to offer an alternative. I don't like the let's just pick our favourite, there needs to be some structure and rules in place."