Unexpected Early Exit for Luke Littler at World Grand Prix Leaves Fans Disappointed
DISAPPOINTED Luke Littler experienced a shocking loss in the World Grand Prix, succumbing to Luke Woodhouse.
In one of his most underwhelming performances on television, The Nuke was defeated 2-1 by the world No.18 on the opening night of the tournament in Leicester.
The two-time world champion faced difficulties with the unique double-start format, averaging under 83 and concluding his title defense in the first round.
This victory stands out for Woodhouse, who is set to face Nathan Aspinall in round two, significantly influencing the upper half of the draw.
The early exit of their top player from the tournament is a major blow for the PDC, Sky Sports, and sponsors BoyleSports.
Despite winning the first set, the Warrington player never found his groove in the match, with an average of 82.41 marking one of his worst showings in a major event.
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Littler, who recently participated in exhibitions across Blackpool, Rotherham, and Skegness, faced a first-round elimination in a major televised event for the first time in two years.
If he does not take part in any Pro Tours events in October, he will have merely TWO more tournaments—the European Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts—prior to defending his World Championship title on December 11.
Earlier this month, Littler’s aspirations for a clean sweep of televised major titles this year came to an end when he was defeated in the World Series of Darts in Amsterdam.
In an Instagram post, Littler commented: “Well played Luke Woodhouse.”
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“It was a great game. A valuable experience to be part of as well.
“Both competitors had their moments, but Luke took advantage of his chances, and now he enjoys a nice week off.
“Wishing Luke the best for the rest of the tournament.”
Woodhouse, 37, stated: “I saw that Luke didn’t win at the World Series and lost to Jonny. However, Jonny is one of the finest players in history.
“Luke isn’t a machine. He will have off days and weeks where he doesn’t perform at his peak.
“Many have reiterated this; he is one-of-a-kind and should be celebrated, not criticized. He deserves our support.
“We might never encounter another talent like Luke Littler again.”
This evening was filled with surprises, as earlier in the night, Van Gerwen—a six-time champion—was ousted 2-1 by Ryan Joyce in another unexpected turn.
The Dutchman, 37, is grappling with his performance and is dropping in the world rankings.
Ross Smith bounced back from a “week from hell,” where he was hospitalized due to sickness and narrowly avoided withdrawing from the tournament.
After surviving two match darts, the recently-crowned World Series champion triumphed over Cameron Menzies 2-1.
The Dover player achieved an impressive average of 99.54, keeping his quest for consecutive major titles alive.