Misery for Luke Littler as he crashes out in first round for second match in a row… minutes after historic darts deal
LUKE LITTLER has crashed out of the first round for the second match in a row.
Littler was knocked out of the Players Championship 4 on Tuesday following upset defeat to James Wade.
Littler was unable to get the better of Wade, losing 6-5 to the 40-year-old.
The Machine sits 11 places above Littler in the world rankings, but was still a surprise winner given the youngster’s recent rise.
And Littler then suffered further misery after losing to Holland’s Jitse van der Wal in the PDC Tour Card qualifier.
Van der Wal had a 120 checkout to close out the match, which he won 6-3.
It is the latest twist in the remarkable story for 17-year-old Littler, who shot to fame for his heroic run to the PDC final.
The teen sensation only turned professional last month after losing 7-4 to Luke Humphries in the World Darts Championship.
And as revealed by SunSport, just moments before losing to Van der Wal, his historic sponsorship deal with Target Darts was announced.
Target Darts first spotted Littler when he was 12 years old and have supported him throughout his journey on the PDC Development Tour and WDF circuit.
And they have announced the first senior contract of his career – exactly a month after he turned 17 – which is believed to be a multi-million pound agreement.
That figure is based on potential earnings and bonuses over the next five to ten years as well as a percentage of sales of products and equipment to arrows fans.
Target say they sold out of his specialised darts cases when he progressed through the field in North London over Christmas and New Year on his debut at world level.
Products on the Target website include £19.95 Takoma XL Luke Littler darts wallets and £14.95 Littler-endorsed 22g steel tip darts.
Punters will soon be able to buy purple and yellow “The Nuke” playing shirts – replicas of what he wore on stage during that epic world champ run – for £49.95.
Warrington-born Littler joins the same stable as former world champions Phil Taylor, Rob Cross and Raymond van Barneveld and reigning world matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall.