Luke Littler remains singularly focused on clinching the European Championship as he competes in Dortmund, seeking to complete his collection of major trophies. This championship is the only significant title missing from his impressive resume following two dominant years in the sport.

Next week, Littler will also participate in a high-stakes Netflix show where 24 players will compete for £501,000 by attempting to defeat him in a one-off leg. The announcement of contestants, including Fallon Sherrock and Mitchell Lawrie, has sparked controversy, but Littler is not letting distractions deter him from his goal in Germany.

He started strong with a 6-3 victory over William O’Connor, advancing to face Nathan Aspinall in the next round. When questioned about his focus, Littler emphasized the importance of this tournament, stating:

“This is the next one after the World Youths... I’ve just got to take it one game at a time.”

Having enjoyed a break since a surprising defeat in the World Youth Championship, Littler feels more focused and ready:

• His practice sessions have prepared him well.
• He aims to avoid adding pressure on himself, focusing instead on performing his best.

The path to victory appears favorable for him after Luke Humphries withdrew due to illness, and Michael van Gerwen suffered a 6-3 loss to Kevin Doets. Other notable results include Ryan Joyce, who faced a tough day, losing 6-3 to Jermaine Wattimena after dealing with travel issues. Meanwhile, Aspinall secured his spot by defeating Cristo Reyes 6-3, alongside wins for Josh Rock, Martin Schindler, and Krzysztof Ratajski.