Darts world champion Luke Littler was forced to withdraw from a Players Championship tournament on Wednesday after being stuck in traffic and missing the registration deadline.

The 18-year-old Briton, currently world number two, had been scheduled to compete at the event in Wigan, near his hometown of Warrington in northern England. Instead, Littler shared a photo on Instagram from the passenger seat of a car, showing another vehicle blocking the way.

“Back to bed it is. Wonder who they are gonna call up,” he wrote in the caption. Reports indicated the registration deadline was 12:00 CET, and Littler’s post was made at 12:06 CET, just minutes too late.

Despite the setback, Littler still has the opportunity to compete in a separate event at the same venue on Thursday, provided he registers on time.

Littler already holds a spot in the Players Championship finals in Minehead, scheduled for November 21–23, where the winner takes home £120,000 ($161,052). Wednesday’s Wigan tournament, meanwhile, offered £15,000 to the champion.

The incident is a rare and unusual hiccup for Littler, who has enjoyed a rapid rise in the darts world. Fans and commentators have expressed sympathy, highlighting the frustration of missing a professional event due to circumstances beyond a player’s control.

“It’s disappointing, but these things happen,” one analyst said. “Littler will have plenty of opportunities to compete, and his talent remains undeniable.”