BREAKING Luke Littler beats rival at a canter as followers ask if ‘he’ll ever lose once more’

Luke Littler’s quest to his latest major is up and running after he saw off Jeffrey de Graaf in the first round of the Players Championship.

The Nuke’s rapid ascent to the top of the darting world culminated at the Grand Slam of Darts – as he dethroned Luke Humphries at the top of the world rankings.

And Littler is now looking to win the final major before his return to the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship. The Nuke was all business in Minehead, as he broke the Swede early doors.

He almost produced a magical 139 checkout, missing tops, as he put distance between himself and De Graaf. After two 17 darts legs, Littler put his foot on the accelerator and started to rattle through the clash.

De Graaf was no match as Littler raced through 13, 13, and 14 darts legs to move 4-1 into the lead.

Littler’s average was rising, and it felt like he wasn’t even out of third gear as he moved 5-1 into the lead.

De Graaf was scrambling for answers – but nothing he was doing could even lay a glove on the cool, calm and collect Nuke, who was moving to the finish at a canter.

In the sixth leg, he was finally able to get a finish, but Littler put pressure on the tops finish with a 180 – which De Graaf failed to take.

Littler went treble nine for tops, and advanced to the next round.

“Luke Littler is just too good,” one fan said. While a second said: “I don’t think he’ll ever lose a match again tbh..”

“Littler is probably only player in game now that can look like he is playing within himself & still hit a 102 or 103 average , Van Gerwen to an extent could do that years ago, it is effortless,” a third admitted.

And another added: “Luke Littler made De Graaf look like an amateur. Steamrolled him…”