In a shocking turn of events at the Players Championship 11 held in Leicester, reigning world champion Luke Littler faced an unexpected early exit, falling to 22-year-old Irishman Dylan Slevin with a score of 6-3. This defeat marks a significant upset, as Littler, who recently celebrated his remarkable victory at the World Championship in January, struggled to find his rhythm against Slevin, who is currently ranked 61st in the PDC order of merit.
Littler, who averaged 90.11 in the match, found himself quickly on the back foot as Slevin surged to a 4-1 lead. Although the Warrington teenager managed to rally, winning two consecutive legs to narrow the gap, Slevin's composure under pressure proved decisive. He executed two crucial double tops, sealing the match and sending Littler out of the tournament in the first round for only the fourth time in his career.
This defeat adds to a troubling trend for Littler, who has now lost three consecutive matches, including a quarter-final exit in the Premier League Darts in Berlin just days prior, where he was defeated by Chris Dobey 6-2. "It’s disappointing to go out early, especially after a strong start to the year," Littler remarked after the match.
Joining Littler in the first-round exodus were other prominent names in the darts world. Michael van Gerwen, a three-time world champion and current Premier League leader, also faced an early exit, narrowly losing 6-5 to fellow Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven. Van Gerwen's struggles have been compounded by injury, which forced him to withdraw from last week’s Premier League night in Berlin. Reports indicate that he suffered a muscle injury while attempting to try on new shirts for a sponsor, which left him with limited mobility in his neck.
Gerwyn Price, another heavyweight in the sport, was also eliminated in the first round, going down 6-4 to compatriot Rob Owen. Price's early exit adds to the competitive drama of the tournament, as several top players have already fallen.
On a brighter note, the tournament saw some thrilling matches and impressive performances from other competitors. Cameron Menzies, who was crowned the champion of the Players Championship 11, showcased his skill by defeating Peter Wright 8-3 in the final, averaging an impressive 107. Menzies expressed his excitement about taking darts full-time, stating, "To win my second Players Championship title shows it's not luck. I feel I'm going in the right direction." His victory comes after a series of strong performances, including a recent win over Price.
In the second round, world number one Luke Humphries managed to secure a win against Michael Mansell but ultimately fell to Brett Claydon in a nail-biting match that ended 5-6, marking another surprise in this unpredictable tournament.
The Players Championship events, of which there are 34 throughout the year, culminate in finals held in Minehead in November. The stakes are high, with a prize purse of £15,000 awaiting the tournament winner. As the dust settles on this round, the remaining players will be eager to capitalize on the unexpected openings left by the early exits of some of the sport's biggest names.
With the second leg of the Leicester doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 2025, fans can look forward to more electrifying darts action. As players regroup and strategize, the competition promises to remain fierce and unpredictable. Who will seize the opportunity to rise in the standings and claim the coveted title? Only time will tell as the tournament unfolds.
