Luke Littler loses AGAIN as world champion suffers shock back-to-back defeats
World champion Luke Littler was beaten by Beau Greaves on Monday and followed that up with another surprise reverse at the hands of Richie Edhouse
Luke Littler has been beaten in his opening match at Players Championship 31 by Ritchie Edhouse.
The Nuke, who won the World Grand Prix for the first time in Leicester on Sunday, lost to Beau Greaves at the World Youth Championship on Monday before falling to defeat against Edhouse in Wigan on Tuesday.
Looking to strengthen his bid to book a place at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead next month, Littler was drawn up against reigning European Champion Edhouse in the first round.
Despite averaging more than 98 in each, Littler lost the first two legs to Edhouse, who looked in fine fettle with Madhouse recording an astonishing 136.64 average in 11 darts to win the second leg.
READ MORE: Luke Littler confirms new management details just days after split statementREAD MORE: Luke Littler hits back at darts fan's sexist Beau Greaves slur with brutal comebackLittler, 18, bounced back to win the next two with an 136.64 average in both, but Edhouse wasn't in the mood to stop as he made it 3-2 to regain control and put the pressure back on the teenager.
They would then exchange legs before Edhouse won the last two to edge a 6-4 thriller, with Littler averaging 106.45 while Madhouse posted a 104.23 average and landed 100 per cent of his doubles.
It was an outstanding performance from Edhouse, who is ranked 26th in the world, as he tries to launch another run at the Players Championship, with his best finish coming as he reached the quarter-final in April.
As for Littler, his Players Championship Finals hopes are now in doubt as he remains outside the qualification spots with just three events left to play. The Nuke was 70th in the Order of Merit before play began in Wigan ahead of a crucial week in the race to be one of the 64 qualifying for Minehead.
World No.2 Littler was crowned as the World Grand Prix champion on Sunday following a 6-1 win against Luke Humphries at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The 2007-born sensation beat Gian van Veen, Mike De Decker, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton en route to winning the tournament for the first time.
"This is my time and I've just got to keep going," Littler said after his World Grand Prix success. "Obviously, until I get that world number one spot, I will never call myself the best in the world.
"Whoever's number one, they're the best. But knowing I'm only £70,000 in prize money behind Luke [Humphries], and then he's got to defend all of his prize money from the Grand Prix, the Players Championships and the World Championship.
"I don't want to think about it too much, but I could be world number one before that World Championship. I've just got to keep chucking away and put as much pressure as I can on Luke."
Littler then said in a surprise announcement that he would travel to compete in the World Youth Championship on Monday. However, despite his success in Leicester, Littler suffered a shock defeat to Beau Greaves in a 6-5 thriller as she became the first woman to reach the final of the competition.
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