Players Championship: Luke Littler throws nine-darter but winning run comes to end

Luke Littler threw his first nine-darter of the year but the teenager’s 19-match winning run came to an end with a defeat in the semi-finals of the Players Championship Five.

The 18-year-old world champion achieved the feat in the sixth leg of his 6-5 second-round win over Adam Hunt in Leicester.

Littler then overturned a 4-0 deficit to beat Dirk van Duijvenbode by the same score, before averaging 122.96 in a 6-1 thrashing Damon Heta to reach the last four.

But his run came to end with a thrilling 7-6 semi-final loss to Gian van Veen – Littler’s first defeat since losing 6-4 to Luke Humphries in the final on night four of the Premier League last month.

Dutchman Van Veen took on Joe Cullen in the final which also went to a last-leg shootout, with the Englishman winning 8-7.

“I think this is the best win of my career, because of the adversity I have had to endure over the last year,” said Cullen, 35.

“When you’re slipping down the rankings and you’re doubting yourself, there is nothing worse in darts. I’m there for a reason, but I am doing everything I can to get myself back up those rankings.”

Gary Anderson also hit a nine-darter during his 6-5 first-round win over Ryan Joyce, before being eliminated by the same scoreline against Rob Owen in the last 16.