LUKE ‘The Nuke’ Littler’s first tilt at the Winmau World Masters darts tournament is over.

The 18-year-old was beaten by Welsh number one Jonny Clayton for the first time as he progressed to the semi-finals with a 4-2 win.

Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton embrace at the end of the match (Image: Taylor Lanning/PDC)

Littler’s average scoring was high, averaging 108.50, hitting nine 180s, 14 scores of 140+ and 16 of 100+, but he missed 13 of his 20 doubles meaning he didn’t make the most of the chances he had.

However, they were stats that anyone would do well to counter and The Ferret was on fire.

2021 Masters winner Clayton found the target when it mattered and some of his finishing was exhibition stuff – featuring checkouts of 128, 138, 130 and 121, while notching up eight 180s, six scores of 140+ and 23 of 100+ on his way to an average of 103.96.

All three legs in the opening set went against the throw.

With Littler waiting on 70, Clayton checked out on 128.

Amazingly ‘The Nuke’ then had time for eight missed doubles before responding in kind for 1-1.

Clayton’s scoring improved considerably and he then finished on 138 to take the first set.

The second set started with a win against the throw as well, ‘The Nuke’ concluding the first leg on 81.

And he checked out on 81 again to hold throw for the first time in the game and make it 1-1 in sets while averaging 109 compared to The Ferret’s 105.

Clayton took three goes to hit the double he needed to break throw in the opening leg of the third set.

Littler was a whisker away from a 128 finish but the Welshman stepped in take the third set 2-0.

Two missed shots at double from ‘The Nuke’ allowed The Ferret to finish on 78 to go 1-0 ahead, with the throw, in the fourth set.

Littler fired back onto level terms but Clayton had the throw in his favour in the last leg.

The 50-year-old missed double 16, Littler hit the outer bull attempting to check out on 130 and Clayton roared back when it mattered for a 3-1 lead in sets.

Luke Littler heads off the stage at the break with work to do to get back into the contest (Image: Taylor Lanning/PDC)

Littler comfortably held throw as they got going again after the break but Clayton did the same, checking out on 121 for a third-leg decider.

‘The Nuke’ got the job done, finishing on 81 to leave himself 3-2 behind in sets.

An 11-darter allowed Littler to break throw and go 1-0 ahead in the sixth set.

But The Ferret then broke Littler’s throw to level matters, with the darts in his favour in the potential match-winning leg.

Littler was still on 158 when Clayton wrapped it up from 40 to send the teenager crashing out of the tournament.