Luke Littler loses out at Dutch Masters despite new tournament record

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WARRINGTON’S Luke Littler lost out in the semi-finals of the Dutch Masters last night, despite setting a new tournament record.

He lost out to Stephen Bunting who booked his spot in the final with a dramatic 7-6 victory over the reigning world champion Littler, with the 18-year-old averaging a tournament record 107.59 but still walking away with a loss.

Littler, who beat ‘The Bullet’ 6-1 in the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship, got off to an electric start as he pinned back-to-back 11-darters but Bunting managed to battle back and found a crucial break of throw of his own to bring the contest level at 3-3.

With a break from each player moving the game to 4-4, Bunting came through with a clutch 125 checkout to move 6-5 ahead before taking out 81 on D12 to make it into the final on the first time of asking.

Bunting, who loost out 8-5 to Rob Cross in the final had set up the semi-final clash against Littler with a 6-5 last-leg shoot-out victory over Dutch stalwart Raymond van Barneveld.

Meanwhile, in their first meeting since the World Darts Championship final, Littler had held off a mid-match fight back from 2024 Dutch Darts Masters champion Michael van Gerwen to wrap up a comprehensive 6-3 victory in their quarter-final clash.
Van Gerwen was in his own backyard and looking to avenge his world’s loss to the 18-year-old but Littler took the early momentum to move 3-0 ahead, the Dutchman taking some time to find his groove.

Despite MVG then winning three legs on the spin, Littler’s big scoring proved pivotal and he raced to take the remaining three legs, wrapping the match up on tops in clinical fashion.

After 14 meetings between the pair, the scoreline is now 8-6 in Littler’s favour with the victory guaranteeing a new winner of the Worlds Series event.


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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