Price beats Littler to end 21-match winning streak
World champion Luke Littler was eliminated from the Bahrain Masters quarter-finals for the second consecutive year by Gerwyn Price, ending his impressive 21-match winning streak. This defeat marks Littler’s first loss since his exit in the last 32 of Players Championship 34 on October 30. His unbeaten streak had propelled him to the world number…
World champion Luke Littler was eliminated from the Bahrain Masters quarter-finals for the second consecutive year by Gerwyn Price, ending his impressive 21-match winning streak. This defeat marks Littler’s first loss since his exit in the last 32 of Players Championship 34 on October 30. His unbeaten streak had propelled him to the world number one spot, earning him the Grand Slam of Darts, his first Players Championship title, and a second PDC World Championship.
On Thursday, the 19-year-old Englishman showcased his skills by decisively defeating veteran Paul Lim during his first appearance at the oche since defending his world title earlier this month. However, he struggled with key darts during the quarter-finals on Friday, finishing with an average of 94.04 compared to Price’s 97.43, resulting in a 6-2 defeat.
Price, aged 40, managed to break Littler’s serve a second time with a bullseye finish, taking a 4-1 lead. He narrowly missed a chance for a third checkout over 100 in the eighth leg but secured the win by hitting double 10.
In another match, former world champion Luke Humphries also fell at the quarter-final stage, losing 6-3 to Nathan Aspinall. Despite their victories, neither Aspinall nor Price reached the final, which was contested entirely by Dutch players, with Michael van Gerwen defeating Gian van Veen 8-6.
**Bahrain Masters – Results:**
**Quarter-Finals:**
– Gerwyn Price 6-2 Luke Littler
– Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
– Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Luke Humphries
– Gian van Veen 6-1 Danny Noppert
**Semi-Finals:**
– Gerwyn Price 2-7 Michael van Gerwen
– Nathan Aspinall 4-7 Gian van Veen
Final:
– Michael van Gerwen 8-6 Gian van Veen
