Luke Littler was a surprise casualty in the first round of Players Championship 11.
The world champion and current Premier League leader was beaten 6-3 by 22-year-old Irishman Dylan Slevin.
Littler averaged just 90.11 compared to his opponent’s 92.74 at the tournament in Leicester.
The 18-year-old was joined on the opening-round scrapheap by Michael van Gerwen.
PC11 - R1 Selected Results:
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 8, 2025
Dylan Slevin 6-3 Luke Littler
Maik Kuivenhoven 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Rob Owen 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Ted Evetts 6-4 Gian van Veen
Stefaan Henderyck 6-4 Joe Cullen
Tom Bissell 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8
📋 https://t.co/XgyuQ3a3Dw pic.twitter.com/D0WoBoSSzP
The three-time world champion lost out in a deciding leg to go down 6-5 to fellow Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven.
Gerwyn Price also fell at the first hurdle, the Welshman bowing out 6-4 against countryman Rob Owen.
Veteran Raymond van Barneveld lost a tight tussle 6-4 to PDC newcomer Tom Bissell.
Cameron Menzies won his second PDC title in Leicester in seventh months after dispatching Peter Wright 8-3 in the all-Scottish final.
