LUKE LITTLER’S dreams of a world championship double are OVER – after being knocked out by tungsten star Beau Greaves in a classic.
Two of the most exciting young talents in world darts met on the oche at the Robin Park Leisure Centre for the early rounds of the Winmau World Youth Championship.
Shutterstock EditorialLuke Littler crashed out of the World Youth Championship semis[/caption]
He lost to Beau Greaves just hours after winning the World Grand PrixGetty
And in the semi-finals, Greaves sealed a memorable 6-5 victory over Littler, coming from 4-2 down and then 5-4 behind, to book her spot in next month’s final.
It was the first time the multiple women’s world champion, 21, had got one over Littler, having lost their first clash on the ProTour in August.
It means that on Sunday November 23, at Butlin’s Minehead resort, on the final day of the Players Championship Finals, Greaves can become the world youth champion for the first time.
It had meant Littler could have played TWO finals in one night for a £132,000 jackpot by beating Greaves and also going on to reach the Players Championship final in Minehead.
On Sunday night, Littler won £120,000 when he crushed Luke Humphries, the world No.1, in the final of the World Grand Prix in Leicester.
Since he turned pro in January 2024, the 18-year-old has collected seven of the 10 TV majors and found space for them in the trophy cabinet of the family mansion in Warrington.
His decision to drop down to world youth level today, even though he could be world No.1 in the coming weeks, was met with some surprise and criticism in certain quarters.
But age-wise, he is still eligible to take part in an event which he won in the autumn of 2023, weeks before he made his Ally Pally debut and became a household name.
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He had been expected to steam through the 128-player field and yet there were some edgy moments, particularly against Charlie Manby in the last 16.
The clash with Greaves, which many think will be the future of world darts, lived up to its promise and the pair averaged more than 105.
In the end, the Yorkshire woman sealed a stunning 84 to book her place in the Somerset showdown.
It was the first time the multiple women’s world champion, 21, had got one over Littler, having lost their first clash on the PDC circuit on the ProTour in August.
In the final, she will face Dutchman Gian van Veen, the 2024 world youth champion, who eliminated Pole Sebastian Bialecki 6-4 in the other semi — the winner will earn £12,000.
Littler’s next televised appearance will be the European Championship in Dortmund, though he might be again subjected to hostility from the German crowds following issues in Munich and Berlin this year.
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