SIMON WHITLOCK hit a nine-darter against Luke Littler but was still beaten by the darts sensation.
The pair met on Wednesday for the first time in the qualifiers for the European Grand Prix, which takes place in April.
GettySimon Whitlock hit a nine-darter but still lost to Luke Littler[/caption]
Littler’s win helped him qualify for the European Grand PrixPA
Veteran Whitlock, who is nicknamed the Wizard and finished as a runner-up in the 2010 World Darts Championship, performed well throughout.
He even threw a brilliant nine-darter but was unable to find a way past a stubborn Littler.
The Warrington wonderkid edged the close contest 6-5 before going on to qualify for the European Grand Prix.
Whitlock responded to the defeat, saying: “Pleased to qualify for @OfficialPDC ET3 today, also hitting a nine-dart leg but losing ”
It was a superb response from the teen after he was shocked earlier in the day by Jitse Van der Wal, who knocked Littler out of qualifying for the International Darts Open.
Littler, 17, will compete at the European Grand Prix between April 19-21, and will look to dethrone 2023 winner Rob Cross, who beat Luke Humphries 8-6 in last year’s final.
He is in action again tonight for night four of Premier League darts, with two-time world champion Peter Wright his opponent.
If he wins that tie he will face Gerwyn Price or Michael van Gerwen for a place in the final, having lost to both players in the previous two editions of the Premier League.
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However Wright is still winless in the Premier League and he joked he will steal Littler’s phone to try and beat his opponent.
Wright said: “I’m going to take his phone off him in the backroom so he can’t play games!
“Hopefully this old boy can still do it against Luke. When I was his age and when I went to an exhibition to play one of the pros, I had the attitude that ‘I’m going to smash you up’.
“That’s the sort of attitude that Luke has got right now which is great.
“It will be nice to play him, I’ve seen what he has done to all the other top pros.
“He hasn’t played me yet but if I play like I did last week in Glasgow he will beat me easy!
“But I’ve now had another week of practice with these darts. That has got me ready for Newcastle.”
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