What Luke Littler is saying ahead of the Players Championship Finals

LUKE Littler says he is feeling relaxed and confident heading into his final tournament before the World Darts Championships.

Fresh from picking up his first major ranking title last weekend at the Grand Slam of Darts, Warrington’s teenage sensation goes again this weekend in the Players Championship Finals.

The tournament at the Butlin’s Resort in Minehead sees the top 64 on the ProTour’s Order of Merit battle it out, with Littler’s three Players Championship victories this season seeing him seeded eighth for the tournament.

He opens his campaign against perennial rival Rob Cross tonight, with this being the third big-tournament meeting between the two this year to go with their many Premier League clashes.

They boast one win each – Littler triumphed in the World Championship semi-finals before Cross dumped the 17-year-old out of the World Grand Prix in the first round last month.

With the Eric Bristow Trophy safely at home in Appleton, however, following a campaign that featured blow-out wins over Martin Lukeman and Jermaine Wattimena as well as staggering fightbacks against Mike De Decker and Gary Anderson, Littler says he feels in top form.

“The win at the Grand Slam has given me a lot of confidence,” declared Littler, who has climbed to world number five following his Grand Slam heroics and will rise to fourth should he win this tournament.

“I can relax a bit now I’ve won my first ranking title. I know my game is there, and I know I can come back if I am trailing in matches.

“I’ve let my darts do most of the talking this year, but there’s still another two titles up for grabs, so hopefully it can get even better.”

Luke Littler mixed dominant victories with stunning fightbacks on his way to lifting the Grand Slam of Darts title last weekend (Image: Kieran Cleeves/PDC)

How and when to watch Luke Littler in the Players Championship

The heavyweight Littler-Cross clash is among the highlights of tonight’s evening session, with the pair due on the Main Stage at around 9pm.

The winner will face either Luke Woodhouse or European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse in the second round, which takes place on Saturday afternoon with third-round ties to be played on Saturday evening.

Quarter-finals follow on Sunday afternoon, with the semis and the final on Sunday evening.

Number one seed Chris Dobey, multiple time world champion Michael Van Gerwen and World Grand Prix winner De Decker are among the players that feature in Littler’s section of the draw.

All of the action can be watched live on ITV4 throughout the weekend, starting at around 12.45pm today.

After this weekend's tournament, it is all eyes on the World Darts Championships, with the action getting underway at Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday, December 15.

Littler and the rest of the field will discover their route through the tournament on Monday when the draw is made at 4.30pm live on Sky Sports News.

Luke Littler faces Rob Cross tonight in the Players Championship Finals (Image: PA Wire)