When could Luke Littler and Luke Humphries meet at Players Championship Finals?

The next chapter in the rivalry between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries could well be written during the final of the Players Championship Finals. The world's numbers one and two are on opposite sides of the schedule and may not meet until the final battle of the tournament, which takes place in Minehead from Friday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 23.

Humphries, recently dethroned as world number one by Littler and defeated last weekend by 'The Nuke' in the final of the Grand Slam of Darts (16-11), will defend his title at the Players Championship Finals. 'Cool Hand Luke' won the event last year by beating Littler 11-7 in the final, after previously beating Michael van Gerwen in the final match in 2023.

Matches for the Players Championship Finals are not based on the PDC Order of Merit, but on performance in Players Championship tournaments during the season.

That results in a remarkably low seeded Humphries: the reigning champion starts as 58th seed. In the first round a tough assignment awaits seventh seed Gian van Veen, winner of the European Darts Championship earlier this fall by beating Humphries of all people in the final.

Littler is seeded 36th and will open the tournament against Jeffrey de Graaf. Despite their relatively low seedings, both world class players are considered the main contenders for the title, although their position in the schedule could make for tough duels early in the tournament.

The tournament has a compact three-day format, with all rounds completed at a fast pace. On Friday, the matches from the first round are played, after which the 32 winners prepare for an intense Saturday. That day is dominated by two rounds; the second round follows in the afternoon, and later in the evening the third round is completed. On Sunday, the quarterfinals will be played in the afternoon, followed by both the semifinals and finals in the evening session. Between the semifinals and the final, the final of the PDC World Youth Championship will be played, with defending champion Gian van Veen facing Beau Greaves.

The Players Championship Finals traditionally serves as the last major graders toward the World Championship at Alexandra Palace in December. For players such as Humphries and Littler, as well as the other top players, the last chance to make their mark towards the World Darts Championship.