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Littler lands “Big Fish” finish to kick start UK Open defence after first Premier League success

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By on  SPORT, Sports News

FRESH from his first night win of the Premier League season, Warrington’s Luke Littler put in a 10-3 demolition of Damon Heta as he got his UK Open defence up and running in Minehead.

Littler, aged 19, the back-to-back World Champion, headed to the coast on the back of his Premier League win in Cardiff and seemed to continue his form as he was quickly in command.
Heta struggled to find his rhythm and was overthinking his throw. A 136 checkout (bull, bull, D16) plus seven perfect darts in the fifth leg helped Littler 4-1 in front.
The world No. 1 and defending UK Open champion took things up a notch as he made it six legs on the spin then reeled in an audacious “Big Fish” finish to get to 7-2, a delightful 108 checkout on tops making it 8-2.

Heta did manage to get another leg on the board, but it was too little, too late as Littler just waited for his moment and rounded off the contest in some fashion by taking out 120 (T20, D20, D10) to seal his spot in the next round against Kevin Doets.
Littler moves onto nine points alongside Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen after winning Night Five in Cardiff; Littler beat Josh Rock, Price and Jonny Clayton to claim first nightly win of the year
He secured his first night win of the season after beating home favourite Jonny Clayton 6-4 in an enthralling Night Five final in Cardiff.
Littler came into the week seventh in the eight-team standings after a slow start to the campaign, and he had to recover from early struggles against Josh Rock to win 6-4 and avoid another early exit.
He improved during a semi-final win over Gerwyn Price, where he fired three ton-plus finishes and closed out a 6-3 victory with a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout, then impressed against Clayton in an absorbing final.
The teenager fired a 106.5 average in a contest that produced 11 maximums, with Littler delivering his second Big Fish of the night and coming agonisingly close to a nine-darter on his way to a much-needed victory.
Littler becomes the fifth different nightly winner in the first five weeks of the Premier League season and jumps to third in the standings on nine points, as Clayton – who saw off Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries on his way to the final – extends his lead with a runner-up finish.


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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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