Luke Littler WINS Players Championship 15 in first darts event since first round World Matchplay exit vs Van Gerwen
LUKE LITTLER has won the Players Championship 15, making his return to the oche for the first time since his World Matchplay exit.
The teenage sensation beat Dutch thrower Wessel Nijman 8-6 to take the title in Milton Keynes.
Littler impressed in the fan-less event, beating seven different opponents in one day to bag the title.
Speaking after the win, he said: “I loved the Matchplay, the crowd was unbelievable, I was a bit nervous on stage for the first time.
“I’ve not really picked up a dart since the Matchplay. To come here and win is even better.
“I’ve got to back myself to win almost everything but I know I can’t do that. But I’d love to win another major this year.”
There had been murmurs of a fall-off in form for the Nuke after his first round World Matchplay exit at the hands of Michael van Gerwen earlier this month.
While he had also suffered defeats in the first and second round of his last two appearances at the Players Championship.
But those concerns seem to be a distant memory now with Littler bagging his SEVENTH title of the year.
In fact, the 17-year-old has won one title in every month of 2024 – starting with victory at the Bahrain Masters in January.
Luke Littler's 2024 titles
- January 19 – Bahrain Darts Masters
- February 12 – Players Championship 1
- March 10 – Belgian Darts Open
- April 28 – Austrian Darts Open
- May 23 – Premier League Darts
- June 15 – Poland Darts Masters
- July 31 – Players Championship 15
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His opponent tonight, Nijman, had previously had his career tainted by a match-fixing scandal.
The 24-year-old was suspended for two-and-a-half years after purposely losing a match 4-0 against David Evans in 2020.
Littler’s strong return to the dartboard comes after he split from girlfriend Eloise Milburn, 21, earlier this month.
The pair went their separate ways after 10 months of dating, but are reportedly still on good terms.
Littler has been keeping himself busy since the breakup and recently took part in a sports star fishing competition.
The Warrington kid was LITERALLY reeling in the big fish in a four-hour team event alongside three darts rivals in Rob Cross, James Wade and Adrian Lewis.
While he also had the time to get in some extra darts away from the tour as he rocked up to a local tournament last week.
Littler made a surprise trip back home to compete in the Cheshire Open in Crewe, just 24 miles away from his home town of Warrington.
The youngster, as expected, swept the competition and took home the first place prize.