Luke Littler Battles Setbacks in PDC Tour Challenges

Luke Littler suffered another surprising defeat at Players Championship 14 on Wednesday, marking his second loss in two days. The 17-year-old struggled with an average of 89.4 and James Hurrell, ranked 92nd globally, defeated him 6-3. This came after his earlier elimination from Players Championship 13 on Tuesday, where he narrowly lost 6-5 to Robert Grundy, who is ranked 116th globally. Grundy, aged 47, earned his PDC tour card in January after a 15-year hiatus from professional darts.

Before Littler’s recent losses, he managed to secure a hard-fought 6-5 victory over Ricky Evans in the first round of Players Championship 14, showcasing his resilience and competitive spirit. The win highlighted Littler’s ability to perform under pressure and compete at a high level in professional darts. Littler’s setbacks came after England’s World Cup of Darts team did not select him with Luke Humphries and Michael Smith taking the spots instead.

Despite his recent achievements, including victories in the Poland Darts Masters and the 2024 Premier League Darts title, Littler remains ranked 25th on the PDC Order of Merit which places him outside the top 10 among English players. His journey in professional darts continues, facing challenges to climb the rankings and secure more consistent performances on the tour.

Despite setbacks, Luke Littler remains determined to prove himself and elevate his standing among the top players in the sport.