Luke Littler hits back at critics after surprise Players Championship defeat

Luke Littler has endured a difficult run of form since becoming world champion and was dumped out of Players Championship 1 at the last 32 stage by Joe Cullen on Monday

Luke Littler has fired back at his critics after his surprise defeat to Joe Cullen in the first Players Championship of the year.

The tournament was held in Wigan on Monday, with Littler beating Martin Lukeman and Jim Long to reach the last 32 stage. But he then came up against Cullen, who reached the third round of the world championships.

Littler struggled badly against The Rockstar though, falling to a 6-3 defeat. The 18-year-old averaged just 87.81 against Cullen, who went on to reach the final where he was beaten by Rob Cross.

The defeat to Cullen means that Littler has still not managed to win more than two matches at a tournament since being crowned world champion. He reached the quarter-finals at the Bahrain Masters before going one better at the Dutch Masters.

Jonny Clayton then knocked him out in the last eight at the World Masters in Milton Keynes recently. And Michael van Gerwen edged him out in a thrilling opening game of this year’s Premier League last Thursday.

His disappointing results since his world title win have seen The Nuke come under fire from social media trolls. Some fans have defended him, with one writing: “All you Littler haters make me laugh remember what he’s done and won in one year on tour. Hate people who rip into people’s success.”

Littler replied from his Facebook account: “Still earned a few quid today while these are sat at home charging their phones waiting for me to lose.”

Littler will play in the second Players Championship on Tuesday before facing Cross in the Premier League in Glasgow on Thursday night. One man who knows all about the test Littler is facing is Luke Humphries, who has backed the 18-year-old to recover his form.

“Littler, the way he’s playing is unbelievable. You’re watching that game against Van Gerwen and you will be very lucky for anyone to match another game like that,” Humphries told Sky Sports.

“He’s by far one of the greatest darts players I’ve seen in my career. I’m not disrespecting myself, but I think he’s the best player in the world. If he goes out, I’m the one to beat but he’s definitely the man to beat. He plays darts at such a great pace.

“He smashes in the trebles and doubles. This is what happened to me last year. There’s a target on your back, everyone wants to beat you. You average over 100 and people beat you. Luke’s performing the best and he’s just been a bit unlucky.

“He has a target on his back being the world champion. Everyone wants to beat him and this will happen, you know this will happen over his career but you know, for me, I always know that I can compete with the best and you don’t get to number one for nothing.”