Luke Littler is knocked out of the Bahrain Darts Masters
NEWLY crowned world champion Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has been knocked out of the Bahrain Darts Masters.
The Warrington 17-year-old lost to Welshman Gerwyn Price 6-2 in the last eight of the World Series of Darts event in The Dome at Bahrain International Circuit this evening.
Littler, who defeated Michael van Gerwen 8-5 to secure his first senior title in last year’s final, progressed to face Price thanks to Thursday’s 6-3 success against Lourence Ilagan.
His loss to Price ends his winning sequence of seven matches and is his first defeat since falling at the hands of world number one Luke Humphries in the Players Championship Final last month.
Unlike the previous night, Littler was in decent form with his scoring and racked up a 105.12 average in defeat.
But his success rate on the doubles was not where it needed to be, managing only 22 per cent.
Price started like a house on fire and never relented, finishing the match on an impressive average of 115.31 – the highest of the tournament so far - and 60 per cent on the doubles.
The Ice Man threw six perfect arrows to start on his way to holding throw in the first leg.
Next, the bull was missed by Price for the break, but Littler checked out on double 10 for 1-1.
Price finished on 110 to nudge back in front, and when Littler missed four goes at double in the next leg the Welshman checked out on 90 to break the teenager for a 3-1 lead.
It was soon 4-1 as Price held his throw and the Ice Man was a whisker outside the double 12 for a nine-darter in the next leg but the teenager checked out on 72 for an 11-darter to reduce the deficit.
Price responded with an 11-darter in a leg in which he scored two 180s for the third time in the match.
Littler missed double 20 to take the next leg and Price needed no second invitation to finish on 67 to make sure there would be no back-to-back Bahrain titles for the Warringtonian.
