Luke Littler‘s hot streak in Premier League Darts was ended in emphatic fashion by Chris Dobey in Berlin on Thursday night.
World champion Littler had won three of the previous four mini-tournaments, including in Newcastle last week when he thrashed Luke Humphries 6-1 in the final.
However, the teenage sensation’s bid for glory in Germany did not progress beyond the first hurdle as he lost to Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals.
Littler hit more 180s than Dobey – four to two – and also ended with a marginally higher three-dart average of 93.28, compared to his opponent’s 93.23.
But Dobey was vastly more successful when it came to finishing and his 54.5% checkout success rate helped him wrap up a 6-2 victory over Littler, who missed 11 of his 13 darts at a double.
The game was played in front of a boisterous crowd, who took great delight in a rare score of 26 by Littler in leg three.
Luke Littler failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals on Night 9 of Premier League Darts
Littler hit four 180s in his match but also produced a pub-like score of 26 during the third leg
World champion Littler looked disappointed as he walked off after losing 6-2 to Chris Dobey
Littler was later criticised by darts fans on social media for what was a below-par performance by his high standards.
One fan tweeted: ‘Littler needs to work on his doubles. That was shocking finishing’.
Another wrote: ‘Littler letting the ground get into his head. Saw it while waiting for the walk on’.
After beating Littler, Dobey went up against a rested Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals.
Price – who had been given a bye through to the last four because Michael van Gerwen was ill – beat Dobey 6-2.
On the other side of the draw, Stephen Bunting beat Nathan Aspinall 6-2 before overcoming Humphries by the same scoreline.
Humphries had earlier beaten Rob Cross 6-3.
More to follow.