Luke Littler shocked for second time in a week as he suffers fate for just fourth time in his career
LUKE LITTLER has crashed out in the opening round of the Players Championship 11 – just days after Premier League disappointment.
The reigning world champion, 18, joined a host of star names at the event in Leicester on Tuesday.
Littler has enjoyed a whirlwind 2025, winning his maiden world crown in January at Ally Pally.
The teenage sensation has since won the UK Open and Belgian Open, smashing records in the process.
Littler was drawn to face Dylan Slevin, 22, in Tuesday’s opener in the East Midlands.
The Nuke was stunned 6-3 by the young Irishman, who averaged 92.74 to Littler’s 90.11.
It is just the fourth time in Littler’s career he has been dumped out in the first round of a ProTour tournament.
The loss came after the defending Premier League champion was KO’d in Berlin last Thursday.
Littler lost in the quarter-finals for the first time this season, going down to 6-2 to Chris Dobey.
Slevin, ranked No61 in the world, came into Tuesday’s contest on a high after beating former world champ Gerwyn Price last week.
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His win over Littler booked a showdown with Martin Lukeman in the next round.
But the Tipperary-native came up just short in a thriller, losing a the deciding leg to Lukeman and going down 6-5.
It was a disappointing return to action for Michael van Gerwen, who was another big-name scalp.
The three-time world champion lost 6-5 to his fellow Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven.
Mighty Mike was forced to miss last week’s Premier League in Berlin due to a freak shoulder injury.
Van Gerwen reportedly suffered the ailment after trying to put on a new shirt.
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
Former UK Open finalist Vincent Van der Voort, a close friend of MVG, explained: “Michael hurt himself in the afternoon [before the event] – it was really unfortunate.
“He was trying on some shirts for his sponsor, and as soon as he put one on, he said something didn’t feel right.
“He could barely move his neck. He went to a physiotherapist, had a massage, even took muscle relaxants.
“He gave it a go, but it just wasn’t happening.
“We ended up going back to the hotel, packed up, and drove home. I was back home by 2am.”