Luke Littler responds after pulling out of darts event ‘to play FIFA’ | Other | Sport

Luke Littler has issued a cheeky response after being accused of pulling out of the Hungarian Darts Trophy to play video games instead.

Littler has been in fantastic form of late and the teenage sensation is on course to rack up £1million in prize money this year.

It’s come after a rapid rise to prominence following his run to the World Championship final, with Littler having won nine titles since the turn of the year.

But the 17-year-old won’t hit double digits, at least not this weekend, with Littler having withdrawn from the Hungarian Darts Trophy, which gets underway on Friday afternoon.

He’ll get another chance to win his 10th title of the year soon enough, with the darts schedule beginning to pick up once again in the build-up to the World Championship.

This is the reason, at least officially, Littler has pulled out of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, but the teen did recently drop a hint his absence in Budapest could be because early access to the new EAFC 25 (formerly FIFA) video game is being released.

Responding to a post on social media claiming the darts ace had taken the week off to play Xbox, Littler responded from his official account with: “What a coincidence,” accompanied by a tongue-sticking emoji.

Littler hasn’t hidden his love of gaming in the past, with the world No.22 even admitting he’s taken his games console on tour with him before.

Speaking in April, Littler revealed: “[Luke Humphries] says to me, ‘You’re never going to have time for FUT Champs anymore?’ I said: ‘I know.’ But luckily FUT Champs finishes on a Tuesday now.

“I will be back tonight, qualifying and playing. When I am abroad, I cannot take my travel case. But when we went to Brighton, I just take my travel Xbox.

“It’s a suitcase, you flip it up, it has the little screen, two controllers, you have a wireless phone. You put your phone on it and it charges. Target got it for me.”

Littler’s fellow darts stars will likely be sighing with relief, such has been the ace’s form at the oche this year.

In his absence, big-hitters like Michael Van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting and world No.1 Humphries will be battling it out for the prize instead.

The action gets underway in the Hungarian capital on Friday afternoon and runs until Sunday evening.