LUKE LITTLER crashed out of Night Nine of the Premier League Darts at the first hurdle.
The Nuke took the opening leg against Chris Dobey in their quarter-final in Berlin.
ReutersLuke Littler was dumped out of the Premier League Darts Night Nine by Chris Dobey[/caption]
ReutersDobey blitzed past the world champion and checked out for a 6-2 victory[/caption]
But Dobey won the next five legs to land a huge shock against the reigning Premier League and world champion.
Littler took the seventh leg to peg it back to 5-2.
However, Newcastle-mad Dobey checked out on his throw to secure a 6-2 win.
It was an uncharacteristically poor performance from Littler, who went into Night Nine at the top of the table.
Despite taking the opener, he struggled to find his rhythm.
And that was epitomised by the fact that the Warrington teen managed to land just two of his 13 attempts at double.
Darts commentator Wayne Mardle could not believe what he was witnessing.
He asked on Sky Sports: “What is going on?”
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Littler gave a brief thumbs-up to the German crowd as he walked off stage dejected at the result.
It was the second disappointing early defeat of the week for Littler.
Ian White dumped him out in round three of the Players Championship 9 in a deciding leg in Leicester.
Littler even appeared to nod in approval at the way the veteran – 37 years his senior – closed out victory.
Dobey set up a semi-final with Gerwyn Price.
The Iceman was due to face Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-final but Mighty Mike pulled out of the event at the 11th hour with a shoulder injury.
Sky Sports MainIt was a disappointing result for the Premier League leader[/caption]
Sky Sports MainLittler acknowledged the crowd as he headed off stage[/caption]
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Uber Arena, Berlin – Thursday April 3
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
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