- Fans think they’ve sussed the reason why Littler won’t be playing in Bucharest
- The teenage indulged conspiracies on social media with his own cyptic response
Luke Littler has teased fans on social media as to why he withdrew from the Hungary Darts Trophy just 24 hours before it was due to begin.
Responding to a SportsBible Instagram post, which speculated that the darts tournament coincided with the early access release of EA FC 25, Little wrote: ‘what a coincidence’, alongside a laughing-face emoji.
Littler is a known fan of the video game, including its Ultimate Team mode, which he has shared clips of him opening player packs during tournament walkouts to the oche.
Fans have cheekily suggested the teenager was putting aside some quality time to play the game over the weekend.
The 17-year-old had been due to play in the tournament in Bucharest, but pulled out for unspecified reasons.
He has already won the Euro Tour tournaments in the Belgium and Austria earlier in the year, and is contending with a stacked winter schedule.
Littler has already declined to to compete in tournaments in Rosmalen, Netherlands and Leverkusen, Germany.
The teenager recently saw his unbeaten run of 15 matches ended by World No.70 Maik Kuivenhoven.
At the beginning of the week, Littler celebrated his second title in the space of 48 hours by claiming the Players Championship 20 crown in Wigan.
The 17-year-old, who on Sunday won his maiden World Series of Darts Finals title in Amsterdam, defied a brilliant fightback from Stephen Bunting to triumph 8-7 in Tuesday’s final following a thrilling last-leg decider.
Glory for Littler secured his ninth PDC title of 2024, including three Players Championship successes.
