That’s because the Runcorn-born ace is ranked too low in the PDC Order of Merit, with England duo Humphries and Michael Smith taking the spots instead.
Despite this, darts legend Dennis Priestley told BestAnonymousCasinos that the PDC should introduce a rule change to get the youngster involved.
On Littler’s absence, Priestley said: “Sky Sports and the PDC could change the World Cup of Darts selection process to get Luke Littler in this summer and they wouldn’t get much stick for it.
“It would be the union who get the blame for letting them change the rules and I think it would cause a lot of upset for the players.
He added: “They could even boycott if there is a late change of the regulations. It reminds me of them trying to fast-track Raymond van Barneveld into the Premier League when he moved over [from the BDO].”
Littler himself has confronted the omission, with the World Championship runner-up commenting: “The ranking rules have been in place for many years. I’m sure Luke and Smith will get the job done.”
Despite not being involved in the World Cup, Priestley still believes the PDC will be doing all they can to cash in on the Littler hype, including pushing his status in the States.
On the sport’s potential growth in the US, the two-time world champion said: “The PDC will be trying all sorts of things to push Luke Littler in America because it’s a market that hasn’t really been conquered in darts.
“We’ve been to Las Vegas in the past and lost money on tournaments but Luke Littler can be the one to change that with his platform.”
Whereas Priestley also believes Littler will go on to set plenty of records during his career, including the one for the most nine-darters: “It was an incredible final topped off by the nine-darter from Luke Littler, Phil Taylor has the televised record with 11 and that’s going to get smashed.”
Littler’s next shot at a major will come in July when he competes at the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
