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Luke Littler is the world number two
ByJonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist
World champion Luke Littler was denied entry to Wednesday's Players Championship 33 event in Wigan after he arrived late because of traffic.
The 18-year-old was set to play in the penultimate Players Championship event of 2025 at Robin Park Leisure Centre.
But he had to withdraw after missing the 11am registration deadline for players.
He posted on Instagram: "Back to bed it is."
Littler was replaced by fellow Englishman Charlie Manby, who is ranked 174th in the PDC's order of merit.
Littler can play in event 34, the final event of the year at the same venue on Thursday.
The top 64 players in the Players Championship rankings qualify for the finals, which take place in Minehead, Somerset, from 21-23 November.
Littler, runner-up at the 2024 finals, claimed his first Players Championship event victory of 2025 at event 32 this month to secure his place at the finals.
Three-time world champion and world number three Michael van Gerwen will not feature at this week's events because of a family holiday.
As he is outside the top 64 in the Players Championship rankings, he will miss the finals for the first time.
