Luke Littler’s stunning Players Championship win ‘takes huge pressure off’

Luke Littler made the perfect Players Championship debut by winning the first of the season on Monday in Wigan, nailing a 9-darter along the way and taking ‘huge pressure off’ in his bid to make a World Matchplay debut this season.

The 17-year-old was in sparkling form as he won seven matches in the day to claim the title and the £15,000 top prize.

The teenager landed a 9-darter in his last 32 victory over Michele Turetta and narrowly missed a second in his last 16 win over Cameron Menzies as he brushed aside the competition until the latter stages.

Things were tighter in the semi-finals, where he beat Alan Soutar 7-6 and then in an epic final as he downed Ryan Searle 8-7, averaging over 109 while Heavy Metal averaged over 111!