In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where precision and poise reign supreme, Luke Littler, the teenage prodigy dubbed “The Nuke,” has hit an unexpected rough patch. The 18-year-old reigning world champion, who has dazzled fans with his meteoric rise, suffered a stunning upset for the second time in a matter of days, crashing out in the opening round of the Players Championship 11 in Leicester. This latest defeat marks only the fourth time in his burgeoning career that Littler has been knocked out at such an early stage in a ProTour event, a rare stumble for a player who’s become synonymous with dominance.
The scene was set in the East Midlands, where Littler, fresh off a disappointing Premier League quarter-final exit in Berlin, faced off against 22-year-old Irishman Dylan Slevin. Expectations were high for the Warrington wonderkid, whose 2025 has been a whirlwind of triumphs—claiming his maiden world title at Alexandra Palace in January, followed by victories at the UK Open and Belgian Open. Yet, on this Tuesday afternoon, the script flipped. Slevin, with an average of 92.74, outshone Littler’s 90.11, sealing a 6-3 victory that sent shockwaves through the darts community. “It’s a tough one to take,” Littler might have thought as he left the stage, his new set of darts failing to deliver the magic he’s known for.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Littler briefly showcased his brilliance with a blistering 11-darter, a moment that reminded everyone why he’s the sport’s golden boy. But Slevin, unfazed, responded with back-to-back 14-darters, snatching the momentum and leaving Littler scrambling. For a player who’s shattered records and redefined what’s possible at such a young age, this defeat was a stark reminder that even the brightest stars can flicker. It came hot on the heels of his Berlin loss to Chris Dobey, where a 6-2 drubbing ended his hopes of a fifth nightly Premier League win. “Double trouble,” fans murmured, as Littler’s invincible aura took a hit twice in a week.
This wasn’t just a bad day at the oche—it was a moment that highlighted the relentless pressure Littler faces. At 18, he’s already a household name, carrying the weight of a world championship and a £1 million-plus prize pot on his young shoulders. His 2025 has been a fairy tale: a record-breaking set average of 140.91 at the World Championship, a Ballon d’Art trophy for the most 180s, and a climb to world No. 2 behind Luke Humphries. But Leicester told a different story. The loss to Slevin joined an elite list of just three other first-round ProTour exits in his career, a statistic that underscores how rare these missteps are for him.
The darts world wasn’t short on big names joining Littler in the early exit club that day. Michael van Gerwen, the three-time world champion, also fell in a nail-biting 6-5 defeat to fellow Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven. “Mighty Mike” had been sidelined the previous week by a freak shoulder injury—reportedly from struggling into a new shirt—making his return a bitter one. Meanwhile, Chris Dobey, riding high from his Berlin triumph over Littler, changed his walk-on song mid-tournament, adding a quirky twist to a day of upsets.
For Littler, the road ahead is both a challenge and an opportunity. “I’ve got nothing to lose,” he’s said in the past, a mindset that’s fueled his fearless ascent. This double blow—Berlin and Leicester—might sting, but it’s unlikely to derail him. The Players Championship 11 crown went to Josh Rock, who clinched an 8-4 victory over Cameron Menzies, proving that the next generation is ready to rumble. As Littler regroups, fans are already buzzing about his next move. Will he bounce back with a vengeance, or is this the start of a tougher chapter? One thing’s certain: in darts, as in life, even the mightiest can stumble—but it’s how they rise that defines them.