Luke Littler Responds to Critics Following Players Championship Exit
Luke Littler appeared to fire back at critics on social media after his third-round exit at the Players Championship 1 in Wigan on Monday.
The 18-year-old darts sensation, who became the sport’s youngest-ever world champion last month, suffered a 6-3 defeat to Joe Cullen, struggling with his finishing as he missed 15 doubles and averaged 87.8.
Early-Season Struggles for Littler
Since his historic World Championship triumph, Littler has yet to reach a final in any of the five events he has competed in:
| Tournament | Result |
|---|---|
| Bahrain Darts Masters | Quarter-finals |
| Dutch Darts Masters | Semi-finals |
| Winmau World Masters | Quarter-finals |
| Premier League Night One | Quarter-finals |
| Players Championship 1 | Third round |
Social Media Response to Criticism
Following his loss, a Facebook account named ‘Luke TheNuke Littler’ seemingly responded to criticism by commenting:
“Still earned a few quid today while these are sat at home charging their phones waiting for me to lose.”
This was in reply to a fan defending Littler, who wrote:
“All you Littler haters make me laugh. Remember what he’s done and won in one year on tour. Hate people who rip into others’ success.”
The Luke TheNuke Littler Facebook account has been active since 2014, when Littler was just seven years old, and boasts nearly 80,000 followers.
What’s Next for Littler?
Littler will look to bounce back in the Players Championship 2 on Tuesday before shifting focus to Premier League Darts Night Two in Glasgow on Thursday. He is set to face Rob Cross in the opening match at 7 PM.
Meanwhile, Cross will be full of confidence after winning the Players Championship 1, defeating Cullen in the final.
