On a crisp Tuesday afternoon in Leicester, the darts world witnessed an unexpected twist in the tale of one of its brightest young stars. Luke Littler, the teenage sensation who has taken the sport by storm, endured a rare off-day at Players Championship 10, bowing out in the quarter-finals to Scott Williams in a match that left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads. The 18-year-old world champion, known for his jaw-dropping averages and unflappable composure, failed to breach the coveted 100-average mark—a benchmark he’s made almost routine in his meteoric rise. Instead, his highest average of the day peaked at a modest 97.82, a far cry from the explosive form that has defined his 2025 campaign.
The day began with promise for Littler, who entered the Mattioli Arena as the reigning PDC World Champion and a favorite to add another title to his burgeoning trophy cabinet. Early rounds showcased glimpses of his trademark brilliance. He dispatched Adam Lipscombe and Dimitri Van den Bergh with identical 6-3 scorelines, his arrows finding their mark with precision. The momentum carried him past Jim Williams 6-4 and Justin Hood 6-2, setting the stage for what many anticipated would be another deep run in the tournament. But darts, as it so often does, had other plans.
Enter Scott Williams, the Boston-born star whose own journey has been one of resilience and grit. Averaging just 86—a figure that wouldn’t typically trouble a player of Littler’s caliber—Williams seized his moment in the last eight. The match was no classic, but it was a testament to the unpredictable nature of the sport. Littler, perhaps feeling the weight of expectation or simply caught on an off day, couldn’t find the rhythm that has made him a household name. “It’s another week,” Littler might have mused, reflecting on his earlier Premier League triumphs this year, but this time, the board didn’t bend to his will. Williams, meanwhile, held firm, clinching a 6-4 victory that sent shockwaves through the Leicester crowd.
For Littler, this exit marks a rare stumble in a year that has otherwise been a dazzling display of talent. Just days earlier, he’d been dominating headlines with his Premier League exploits, including a 6-1 thrashing of Luke Humphries in Newcastle that extended his lead at the top of the table. His four nightly wins in eight weeks—including triumphs in Glasgow, Brighton, Cardiff, and Newcastle—have solidified his status as a force to be reckoned with. Yet, Players Championship 10 revealed a human side to the prodigy. “I’m always confident in my own ability,” he’d said after one of those Premier League victories, “but the way my darts are going at the minute, it’s probably the best I’ve ever played on a consistent basis.” On this Tuesday, though, consistency eluded him.
Williams, for his part, deserves credit for capitalizing on the opportunity. His path didn’t end with Littler; he advanced to the semi-finals, only to fall 7-5 to a red-hot Josh Rock, who went on to claim the title with a blistering 110.34 average in an earlier round. Williams’ performance against Littler, while not statistically dazzling, underscored the tenacity that has seen him reach the last four of a ProTour event for the first time since 2023. “You’ve got to take your chances when they come,” a player like Williams might say, and he did just that.
For Littler, the focus now shifts to the Premier League, where he’ll face Chris Dobey in Berlin on Thursday, April 3. The Uber Arena showdown promises a clash of styles, with Littler looking to rebound and maintain his grip on the top spot ahead of the May 29 Play-Offs at London’s O2 Arena. Fans will be eager to see if this Leicester hiccup was merely a blip or a sign of tougher tests ahead. At 18, Littler has already rewritten the darts record books, but days like these remind us that even the brightest stars can flicker. As the darts world turns its gaze to Berlin, one thing is certain: ‘The Nuke’ will be itching to detonate once more.
Leave a Reply