Littler suffers second shock defeat in two days

Luke Littler suffered a astonishment conclusion for nan 2nd clip successful nan abstraction of 2 days astatine nan Players Championship 14 connected Wednesday.

A struggling Littler, who averaged 89.4, was defeated 6-3 by world number 92 James Hurrell successful his 2nd title since not being included successful England's World Cup of Darts team.

The 17-year-old was besides knocked retired of nan Players Championship 13 successful nan first information connected Tuesday by world number 116 Robert Grundy.

England's Grundy, 47, who only secured his Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) circuit paper successful January aft a 15-year absence from nan sport, defeated Littler 6-5.

Before his 2nd daze defeat, Littler had returned to winning ways earlier connected Wednesday pinch a hard-fought 6-5 triumph complete Ricky Evans successful nan first information of nan Players Championship 14.

Luke Humphries, who hit Littler successful nan World Championship final successful January, and 2023 world champion Michael Smith were picked up of nan teen for nan World Cup pinch only 2 spots disposable connected nan England team.

In June, Littler defeated England's Rob Cross successful nan final of nan Poland Darts Masters to declare his 2nd World Series of Darts title of nan year.

This came aft nan Warrington teen won nan 2024 Premier League Darts title successful May, pursuing a triumph complete Humphries to avenge his World Championship last defeat.

However, Littler still sits extracurricular nan apical 10 English players successful nan world rankings and is classed 25th connected nan PDC Order of Merit - which is based connected prize money.