Two-time world champion Luke Littler remains in contention for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, despite experiencing setbacks in recent tournaments. After suffering a 10-4 defeat to Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals of the World Series of Darts Finals and an unexpected first-round exit at the World Grand Prix, Littler's quest for a historic clean sweep of the year has faced challenges.

Littler, the current world No. 1, had a stellar start to the season, winning the first six premier events following his World Championship victory at Alexandra Palace in January. His impressive haul includes:

• World Masters
• UK Open
• Premier League
• World Cup of Darts
• World Matchplay

With the World Youth Championship also eluding him after a semi-final loss to Cam Crabtree, Littler's ambitions to hold both the World Championship and World Youth titles were dashed. The final of the World Youth Championship is scheduled for November 29 in Minehead, coinciding with the Players Championship Finals.

Currently sitting in 126th place on the ProTour Order of Merit with £10,500, Littler faces a tough road ahead, needing to reach the finals of the remaining events to qualify. The cut-off for the top 64 players is projected to exceed £30,000, with Mike De Decker occupying the last qualifying spot.

Darts analyst Matt Edgar expressed skepticism about Littler participating in the final two ProTour events, suggesting that his recent decisions could impact his eligibility for the finals. The potential prize money breakdown for the Players Championship includes:

• Second round: £1,250
• Third round: £2,000
• Quarter-finals: £4,000
• Semi-finals: £6,500
• Final: £15,000

As he aims for a third consecutive world title, Littler's journey continues to be closely watched, with the possibility of becoming the first player since Phil Taylor to achieve this milestone.