Luke Littler has been sent packing from the European Championship by Andrew Gilding in a shocking first-round upset. The young darts sensation suffered a 6-4 defeat after failing to bounce back from a disastrous start.
In the penultimate leg, Littler’s frustration was evident as he gestured towards someone in the crowd following a missed opportunity to even the score. Arriving in Dortmund as one of the title favourites, Littler found himself on the back foot after losing the opening leg.
In the second leg, 53-year-old Gilding had the audience on their feet with back-to-back 180’s. His dream of a nine-darter was dashed when he hit triple seven, but he still comfortably won the leg, reports the Express.
Littler had a opportunity to break back with three shots at double top, but missed all chances.
(Image: PA)
But ‘The Nuke’ was not out of it yet as he responded after Gilding had gone 4-2 ahead to level the match.
The comeback looked on for Littler to take the match but he failed to push on, leaving Gilding the chance to take a big name out the competition.
Goldfinger now looks forward to second round match against the home favourite Ricardo Pietreczko.
The early defeat for Little is the second in just weeks he has been sent out the first round. At the World Grand Prix earlier this month, Little went out in a first-round defeat to former world champ Rob Cross.
Following the defeat to Cross, Little posted on X: “Debut didn’t go to plan as I would of liked but overall I enjoyed my performance.
“Fair play to Rob, week off now and back to it in Wigan for PC 27/28.”