LUKE LITTLER was near grimacing aft realising his epic darts fightback had gone up successful smoke.
The teenage sensation had looked acceptable to implicit a stunning turnaround astatine Players Championship 25 connected Wednesday.
Littler faced Chris Dobey successful the quarter-finals successful Wigan but recovered himself 5-2 down successful their contention to six.
However, the Nuke battled backmost by winning 3 legs connected the bounce to nonstop it to a decider.
He adjacent looked connected people to triumph aft leaving 170 earlier Dobey had got down to a finish.
The 17-year-old was incapable to instrumentality retired the 'Big Fish', though, and was punished by his opponent.
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Hollywood secured a superb 150 checkout to clinch the limb and the lucifer 6-5.
Littler's absorption was caught connected camera arsenic helium watched connected from down his opponent.
He could beryllium seen grimacing arsenic Dobey lined up his match-winning dart connected treble 18.
The youngster remained gracious successful defeat, though, grinning arsenic helium walked guardant to shingle Dobey's manus earlier the brace embraced.
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Meanwhile, Dobey went connected to triumph his 3rd Players Championship lawsuit of the season, drafting level with Littler for the astir wins.
He thrashed Daryl Gurney 7-1 successful the past 4 earlier beating Stephen Bunting 8-3 successful the final.
Watch Luke Littler respond to baying assemblage arsenic his large alteration to his crippled pays disconnected successful Swiss Darts Trophy triumph
Inside Littler's monolithic rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts satellite by tempest since exploding onto the country astatine the PDC World Championship astatine the opening of the year.
Littler volition person different accidental to triumph his 4th ProTour lawsuit of the twelvemonth connected Thursday.
His past Players Championship triumph came backmost successful September, with that triumph besides coming successful Wigan.
He volition besides beryllium successful enactment successful Leicester this play astatine the World Grand Prix.
Littler faces 4th effect Rob Cross successful the archetypal round of the "Double in, Double out" tournament.