Regardless of recording an insane three-dart common, Luke Littler has bowed out of the Dutch Darts Masters.
Littler loved a outstanding common of 107.59 – the very best of the event – however it was not sufficient as Stephen Bunting prevailed 7-6 of their semi-final encounter.
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He additionally pinned seven 180s to Bunting’s 5, however it was Littler’s ending that proved pricey.
The 18-year-old managed to hit six profitable checkouts from 14 tried, however his highest end was 56.
As for Bunting, he managed yet one more checkout from the identical variety of makes an attempt.
Littler started the match brightly and raced out to a 3-1 lead, however Bunting clawed again the deficit and tied it at 3-3.
The pair went back-and-forth till they reached a deciding thirteenth leg.
Sadly for Littler, Bunting discovered one other gear as he rattled off an 11-dart leg to safe victory.
Bunting’s win put him on target for a second-straight Masters title having overwhelmed Gerwyn Value to win the Bahrain Masters.
The Liverpudlian should get previous former world champion Rob Cross to make it back-to-back title triumphs.
Bunting’s victory was additionally some type of revenge given it was Littler who knocked him out within the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship.
Littler was in red-hot type that match as he thrashed Bunting 6-1 on the Alexandra Palace.
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The 18-year-old famously went on to win the World Darts Championship with a 7-3 victory over Michael van Gerwen.
It secured Littler’s place in historical past as he turned the youngest-ever world champion.
Nonetheless, the loss to Bunting meant his watch for a primary title since his crowning second rolled on.
Littler’s bid to defend his Bahrain Masters title ended on the quarter-final stage as he bumped into an on-form Gerwyn Value.
Value produced sensational darts to beat the teenager and recorded a three-dart common of 115.31 en path to a 6-2 victory.
Littler’s subsequent likelihood to win his second trophy of 2025 will arrive on the Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes.
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Due to his seeding because the No. 2 participant, Littler will face one among eight qualifier within the first spherical of the event.
The Winmau World Masters kicks off on January 30.