Luke Littler dumped out of Players Championship 13 by World No116 who returned to darts tour in January after 15 years
LUKE LITTLER was dumped out of Players Championship 13 by World No.116 Robert Grundy.
The 17-year-old has had a break from the sport after missing out on the England team in the World Cup.
But on his return in Milton Keynes earlier, he crashed out in the opening round to the 47-year-old labourer, nicknamed Grenade.
Grundy, from Hartlepool, pulled off the deciding leg 6-5 victory over the Premier League champion.
It was a shock low-key performance from Littler as he only registered an average of 79.02.
‘The Nuke’ appeared to be in control at 4-2 up, having lost the opening two legs.
But Grundy stormed back to lead 5-4. Littler levelled it up only for Grundy to win the final leg.
Grundy only picked up his tour card at the PDC’s Qualifying School in January – and only went back to darts after watching it on TV after 15 years away from the sport.
He said at the time: “For many years, I thought I could do it. But actually do it, it’s amazing. Just everything’s come out of me now.
“Since I was young, I thought of being professional so to be here at my age, I can’t wait. I feel 16 again I really do.
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“It hasn’t sunk in, but it has. My heart is going ten to a dozen now.
“I was literally nobody since last year. I’m a labourer. My boss who sponsors me saw something in me backed us and it’s just took this year and last year to get to where I am.
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has since joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
The wonderkid has now cemented his place among the tungsten elite by winning the Premier League Darts final – and the £275k top prize.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
“I wanted to do it, I was just working away so it’s just where the money was and I didn’t have time to play darts.
“I had 15 years out. I just turned on the TV one day and saw them and I got the bug back again and I’m glad I did turn that telly on in the morning.
“I went from strength to strength. On my day, I’ve hit a couple of ton plus averages today but I’ve been virtually around the 90 mark all day.
“When they go, they go. I can’t wait to mix it with the big boys, I really can’t.”
'He just eats potatoes on TikTok'
LUKE LITTLER has called out social media star Beavo for a boxing fight.
Littler, 17, has taken the world by storm after exploding on to the darts scene last Christmas.
But he’s already eyeing a switch to the boxing ring.
On a trip Stateside ahead of the US Darts Masters, Littler was asked who he’d choose to fight while appearing on Ariel Helwani’s MMA podcast.
And, waving off suggestions of Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith, he instead chose TikTok sensation Beavo.
Littler said: “It’s like a proper person, it’s not a darts player.
“Do I like him? Nah. Beavo.
“He just swallows potatoes whole on TikTok.”