Luke Littler doesn’t forget easily.
Less than 24 hours after he won the World Grand Prix, the 18-year-old made the divisive decision to participate in the World Youth Championship.
The move drew criticism given Littler is the reigning world champion, although tournament rules stipulate competitors need to be aged 24 or younger.
Despite Littler’s remarkable standing in the game, he was dumped out in the semi-finals by 21-year-old phenom Beau Greaves.
Defeat to Richie Edhouse at the Players Championship 31 left ‘The Nuke’ a serious chance of missing out on the Players Championship Finals at Minehead in late November.
At this point, fans took their chance to poke fun at Littler’s situation and the chance he may have to wait until next year to win one of the three ranked majors he has yet to take out.
But Littler ensured he would be amongst the field thanks to a 8-2 win over Dennie Olde Kalter in the Players Championship 32 final.
How did Luke Littler respond to social media trolls?
And the teenage sensation had a special message for his doubters following his umpteenth triumph.
“I am on social media,” Littler said.
“Lots of people were saying that I wasn’t going to make it.
“There you go, I’ve won today.”
Littler also took a swipe at those who questioned his entry at the World Youth Championship, where Greaves will face off against Gian van Veen in the final on November 23.
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Luke Littler claps back at World Youth Championship critics
“The likes of Gian van Veen, tour card holder, Keane Barry, tour card holder, but I’m the one who gets it in the neck,” Littler said.
“I didn’t win, so obviously a lot of people were happy.
“I just thought I’d come and get used to playing first to five and first to six. That’s what I did today and yesterday.”
With his spot at the Players Championship Finals and the World Grand Prix trophy all secured in the space of a few days, Littler has his eyes on a hard-earned breather away from the oche.
“I’m very exhausted, but happy to have come away with a win,” Littler said.
“I did the Grand Prix and then the youth, yesterday and today. I’ve been playing for ten or 11 days non-stop, so I will have a well-deserved break this weekend and then I will be back for the Europeans.”
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When will Luke Littler be in action next?
Littler’s declaration means he will be absent from the German Darts Championship in Hildesheim, which gets underway on October 17.
Instead, the teenager’s mooted return will be at the European Championship.
This year’s event begins on October 23 in Dortmund, where the winner will take home a cool £120,000 from a total prize pot of £600,000.
It is one of the few ranked televised events Littler has not won, as ‘The Nuke’ was dumped out in the first round of last year’s event by Andrew Gilding.