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32 minutes ago
Teenager Luke Littler will become world number one for the first time if he wins the European Championship, which starts on Thursday.
The 18-year-old has been on the professional tour for less than two years but is looking to replace Luke Humphries as the top-ranked player.
Littler, currently number two in the rankings, has stated his ambition to claim the top spot before beginning his PDC World Championship title defence at Alexandra Palace in December.
Victory at the European Championship in Germany, which concludes on Sunday, would make him the youngest PDC world number one, surpassing Michael van Gerwen who achieved the feat aged 24 in 2014.
Depending on results, Littler could also overtake fellow Englishman Humphries if he does not win the title in Dortmund, but progresses further than his rival.
Humphries, the 2024 world champion, would extend his lead – which currently stands at £52,500 – if he takes the £120,000 first prize.
The rankings are based on prize money earned over a two-year period, with Littler winning seven major titles and earning nearly £1.7m.
Littler closed the gap on Humphries when he won the World Grand Prix earlier this month, saying afterwards: “Obviously, until I get that world number one spot, I will never call myself the best in the world.
“I don’t want to think about it too much, but I could be world number one before that World Championship.
“I’ve just got to keep chucking away and put as much pressure as I can on Luke.”
Littler begins his European Championship campaign against five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld, 58, on Friday.
Humphries, 30, faces Pole Krzysztof Ratajski in the first round and could potentially meet Littler in the quarter-finals.
A day after his Grand Prix victory, Littler was beaten in the World Youth Championship semi-finals by Beau Greaves, before he then won the Players Championship 32 event.
He has also announced a new management deal with Target Darts after splitting with Martin Foulds of ZXF Sports Management, who had managed him for five years.
Littler will hope to improve his recent record in Germany, where he has skipped some tournaments after facing a hostile reception from spectators. He was booed alongside Humphries when the pair lost to Germany at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt in June.
After the European Championship, there are two big tournaments before the World Championship starts on 11 December – the Grand Slam of Darts (8-16 November) and Players Championship Finals (21-23 November).
How Littler could become world number one at European Championship
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If Humphries is beaten in the first round in Dortmund, Littler becomes number one if he makes the semi-finals
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If Humphries loses in round two, Littler will top the rankings if he makes the final
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If Humphries loses to Littler in the quarter-finals, then Littler will become number one if he makes the final
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If Littler loses in the quarter-finals or earlier, Humphries remains world number one.
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If Littler wins the title in Dortmund, he will lead the rankings
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If Humphries wins the European Championship, he will remain world number one
