Here is why Luke Humphries and Luke Littler aren't at Austrian Darts Open this weekend

Luke Humphries and Luke Littler were among the big names to withdraw from the Austrian Darts Open in Graz which is a known issue to get to from the UK with a connection need to get to the country. But both were seemingly always not going to play.

Humphries and Littler are currently embarking on an exhibition tour this weekend on what appears from the outset to be a weekend off but both are meeting fans up in Scotland over the past few days.

They started at Kelso in the case of Littler and Pettycur Bay in Fife for Humphries. Littler was well beaten in the final in Kelso by Willie Borland who took a 6-2 win. Littler took out 170 in the opening leg but Borland fired back hitting 150, 142 and 160 en route to victory.

Action moved onto Ayr with two shows in a day for the leading duo with Littler thrashing Humphries 8-1 with a 104.01 average, five 180's and a high checkout of 140 with Humphries getting his own back in the evening event in a match with nine 180's combined.

Littler lost 8-3 to Humphries and now today they move onto Alloa. This of course was a mere day after both played in Liverpool at the Premier League.

But it does ask questions of players deciding not to take weekends off and complaining about the calendar to play exhibitions. Luke Humphries hit the headlines for saying he wanted a break and was criticized by certain sections for these comments.

It also prompted debate including from Paul Nicholson who praised Littler for managing his schedule and said that while players have a point, they need to manage their schedules better.

“The power is with the player here. That has to be the message," said Nicholson to talkSPORT.

“If you’re at the point where you think you’re not going to perform at your best then maybe you need to have planned a bit better.

“I’m not saying that Luke Humphries has made a mistake here but look at Luke Littler, the most talked-about darts player in the world. 

“Was he in Riesa at the weekend? No he wasn’t. Was he in Gottingen a couple of weeks ago? No. Why? Because he’s managing his schedule a little bit better than anybody else is at the moment.

With another Euro Tour next weekend and of course Premier League, it does ask questions of the top stars especially when Michael van Gerwen for instance has taken a weekend off to go on holiday instead of playing exhibitions or Graz so perhaps has a better idea.