DART OFFICIALS FIRES TWO REFEREES OVER BIGGEST CHEATING SCANDAL: JONNY CLAYTON DEMANDS REMATCH WITH LUKE HUMPHRIES
Luke Littler was sent crashing out of the World Darts Masters on Sunday afternoon as he suffered a stunning 4-2 defeat to Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals.
The 18-year-old world champion was an overwhelming favourite against the world No 7 and averaged an impressive 108.5 in the match, but was denied by some class finishing as Clayton hit nine of 15 darts at a double.
The loss means Littler can now turn his focus to the defence of his Premier League Darts title, which begins on Thursday evening in Belfast, live on Sky Sports.
Clayton stunned Littler with a superb 138 finish to take the first set, but the 18-year-old won the next two legs to immediately level the match.
The Ferret silenced the Milton Keynes crowd by winning the third set against the throw and then hitting D2 to claim a 3-1 lead after Littler had missed a set dart at bullseye.
Littler held his nerve to win the fifth set with an 81 checkout and then looked to have wrestled back control when he broke Clayton with an 11-darter to take the first leg of the sixth set.
But Clayton opened the next leg with five perfect darts before pinning D16 to break back immediately and he sealed a famous victory on tops in what proved to be the final leg of the match.