The Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy is underway right now—from March 13 to 15, 2026—at the Lokhalle in Göttingen, Germany. As the second stop on this year’s PDC European Tour, the event boasts a stacked 48-player field battling for a £230,000 prize pot, including £35,000 for the champion (with £30,000 often spotlighted for the Sunday final winner in coverage).
Despite his status as world number one and reigning back-to-back PDC World Champion, the 19-year-old sensation known as “The Nuke” withdrew from the tournament well in advance. Rob Cross stepped in as his replacement through the Pro Tour Rankings. Littler’s decision aligns with a noticeable pattern: he has largely avoided German-hosted European Tour events this season, reportedly stemming from previous negative experiences with crowd reactions during earlier visits to the country. He has cited similar reasons for skipping other German stops, vowing in past instances not to return until specific later dates like October for bigger events.
Littler did make a strong impression earlier in the European Tour calendar by winning the opening Poland Darts Open, where he held off a dramatic nine-dart challenge from Gian van Veen in the final to lift the title. That victory showcased his trademark composure under pressure. However, his selective schedule continues to prioritize major televised competitions and rest amid an intense year.
Other big names are also sitting this one out. Luke Humphries (world number two) withdrew after the draw was made—though he had previously signaled his intention not to play—leading to Karel Sedláček entering as a replacement. Jonny Clayton pulled out due to his ongoing ankle gout issue following his recent Premier League success in Nottingham, with Cam Crabtree taking his spot from the reserve list. Additional short-notice absences include Gary Anderson, James Wade, and defending champion Nathan Aspinall, replaced by players like Mensur Suljović, Keane Barry, and Lukas Wenig.
The remaining field is still loaded with firepower. Top seeds and contenders include Gian van Veen (seeded 2), Michael van Gerwen (aiming for a fourth European Darts Trophy crown), Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Ryan Searle, Josh Rock, Danny Noppert, Chris Dobey, Martin Schindler, and more drawn from the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour qualifiers. Action kicked off with Friday’s first-round matches, building toward Saturday’s second round (where top seeds enter) and Sunday’s climactic semi-finals and final.
Littler’s packed 2026 campaign has already delivered massive highs: back-to-back world titles (including a win over van Veen in January’s final), consecutive UK Open triumphs, strong Premier League showings (rising to second in the table after recent nights), and more. By opting out of this Göttingen event, he maintains a strategic focus on peak performance across the biggest stages—Premier League legs, upcoming European stops like the Belgian Darts Open, and beyond—while managing the relentless demands of elite darts.
Fans hoping to catch Littler in action will have to wait for his next scheduled appearance, but the current tournament promises plenty of drama with its deep talent pool and high stakes. In a sport where every dart counts, absences like his only heighten the intrigue for those stepping up to challenge for glory.