Luke Littler fell to another first-round TV tournament defeat as veteran Andrew Gilding produced an upset win at the European Championship in Dortmund.
The 17-year-old Premier League champion crashed out of the World Matchplay and the World Grand Prix events at the first stage in recent months.
Gilding made it an unwanted hat-trick for Littler – 36 years his junior – as the former UK Open champion triumphed 6-4 on the Westfalenhalle stage.
GILDING STUNS LITTLER
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 25, 2024
What a win for Andrew Gilding as he beats Luke Littler 6-4 to set up a second round clash with Pietreczko in Dortmund.
A huge shock on Day Two!
https://t.co/S1EAMLfyjD#ECDarts24 | R1 pic.twitter.com/IilVDXF4zW
Littler was out sorts in falling 3-0 behind on his European Championship debut, but the Warrington teenager showed his resilience to level at 4-4.
But Littler missed double 18 for a 156 finish and Gilding stepped in to win what proved the penultimate leg before closing out the match.
Littler could only record a match average of 95.39 with a checkout rate of 31 per cent.
Reigning champion Peter Wright was hammered 6-0 by Jermaine Wattimena, while world number one Luke Humphries showed his class in overcoming Nathan Aspinall 6-2.
Humphries produced a stunning 106.49 average in hitting seven 180s.
Absolutely RIDICULOUS from Humphries
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 25, 2024
A stunning 152 checkout now for Luke Humphries to move 5-1 ahead of Aspinall, who simply does not know what has hit him!
https://t.co/S1EAMLfyjD#ECDarts24 | R1 pic.twitter.com/JnrXS3AgjX
James Wade won the battle of two former European champions with a 6-3 victory over Rob Cross.
Jonny Clayton defeated Chris Dobey 6-4 and Danny Noppert saw off Joe Cullen 6-2.
Newly-crowned World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker cruised past sixth seed Josh Rock 6-1.
Ricardo Pietreczko edged Damon Heta 6-5 to book a last-16 date with Gilding.
