Luke Littler’s Premier League woes continue amid clash with crowd after Jonny Clayton defeat
Luke Littler endured another difficult evening at the Premier League as Jonny Clayton knocked him out 6-3 in the quarter-finals in Belfast tonight.
The world champion found himself on the receiving end of boos and jeers from the Northern Irish crowd throughout the match.
After struggling to find his finishing touch and missing several attempts at double 10, Littler finally landed the shot.
His response? A ‘calm down’ gesture directed at the particularly vocal sections of the audience.
A stony-faced Luke Littler told the Belfast crowd to calm down after a 112-checkout
|
SKYSPORTS
It was a cheeky moment from the young star, who had earlier encouraged the crowd to make more noise during one of his throws.
The pair exchanged brief words after Clayton’s victory before Littler departed the stage.
Littler’s Premier League campaign has been a real struggle so far, with a bye last week being the only thing that got him through to the semi-finals.
Clayton had already beaten him convincingly on night 3, when the Welshman claimed victory.
The current league leader put on a brilliant display tonight, with a stunning 156 checkout standing out as the highlight.
Luke Littler crashed out in defeat to Jonny Clayton, who won the last Premier League night to propel his position further in the table
|
PA
Littler did manage to fight back and had more exchanges with the Belfast faithful, but it simply wasn’t enough.
This marks the third time in four nights that the teenager has made just one appearance on stage.
Away from the Premier League, though, things look much brighter for Littler.
He claimed the Poland Darts Open title this weekend, pocketing £35,000 despite his opponent Gian van Veen hitting a remarkable nine-darter.
Littler wasn’t the only big name to fall at the first hurdle, either.
Luke Humphries, who faced Littler in last year’s final, also crashed out in the quarter-finals.
Luke Littler hurried off stage after his defeat following a brief few words with Jonny Clayton
|
PA
Stephen Bunting produced a surprise 6-4 victory over Humphries and will now take on Clayton in the semi-finals.
It’s been that kind of tournament so far, with the 2026 Premier League proving wonderfully unpredictable.
Both of last year’s finalists gone before the semis even began – you really couldn’t have seen that coming.
Michael van Gerwen, who has already reached two finals this season, returns to action tonight against Gerwyn Price after missing last week’s Glasgow event through illness.
