Luke Littler suffers back-to-back defeats as world champion beaten again

Darts sensation Luke Littler suffered another defeat in his opening match at Players Championship 31 - losing to Ritchie Edhouse. The 18-year-old, who clinched the World Grand Prix title for the first time in Leicester on Sunday, was defeated by Beau Greaves at the World Youth Championship on Monday before succumbing to Edhouse in Wigan on Tuesday.

Littler, who is aiming to secure a spot at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead next month, faced reigning European Champion Edhouse in the first round. Despite an impressive average of over 98 in each, Littler lost the first two legs to Edhouse, who was in top form with 'Madhouse' recording a staggering 136.64 average in 11 darts to win the second leg.

However, Littler bounced back to win the next two legs with an equally impressive 136.64 average. But Edhouse was relentless as he regained control with a 3-2 lead, piling the pressure back on to the teenager.

The pair then traded legs before Edhouse claimed the last two to secure a thrilling 6-4 victory, with Littler posting an average of 106.45 while Madhouse achieved a 104.23 average and landed all of his doubles. Edhouse, currently ranked 26th in the world, delivered an exceptional performance as he aims to make another deep run at the Players Championship, having previously reached the quarter-final in April.

Littler, known as 'The Nuke', is facing uncertainty over his Players Championship Finals prospects, sitting outside the qualification spots with only three events remaining. Prior to the start of play in Wigan, he was ranked 70th in the Order of Merit - making this week crucial in his bid to be among the 64 qualifiers for Minehead.

The World No.2 and recent World Grand Prix champion, Littler, clinched a 6-1 victory against Luke Humphries at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester on Sunday. The young prodigy, born in 2007, triumphed over Gian van Veen, Mike De Decker, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton to secure his first tournament win.

Following his World Grand Prix success, Littler declared: "This is my time and I've just got to keep going." He added: "Obviously, until I get that world number one spot, I will never call myself the best in the world."

He continued: "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."

In a surprising turn of events, Littler announced his intention to compete in the World Youth Championship on Monday. Despite his previous success in Leicester, he was unexpectedly defeated by Beau Greaves in a nail-biting 6-5 match, marking her as the first woman to reach the competition's final.