Mardle believes Littler will be “slightly bothered” by performances after shock major exits

LUKE LITTLER will be “slightly bothered” by his recent performances after suffering a pair of shock defeats, according to Wayne Mardle.

The world No.1 was dumped out of the World Grand Prix at the first hurdle by Luke Woodhouse, losing 2-1 with an average of just 82.51, his lowest in three appearances at the Leicester event.

Littler, 19, hit just four out of 21 attempts at double in his 10-4 quarter-final exit to Jonny Clayton in the World Series Finals a week prior.

The Nuke had previously put together a stunning run of SIX consecutive ranked major triumphs, stretching from the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts to the World Matchplay in July.

Littler was bidding to become the first man to complete a clean sweep of all the PDC Premier events this season.

Former pro Mardle believes it is the manner of Littler’s latest setbacks, rather than the fact he has lost, that will concern him most.

He told Tungsten Tales: “What he's been doing is ridiculous. Losing shouldn't seem ridiculous, but it's gone all the other way.

“As in, he gets beat and the world stops, and everyone thinks that it’s been flipped on its head.

"He's going to lose. The amount he's been winning has been incredible. So, losing, I think, is just going to come.

“I’m not saying I expected him to lose because I did not. But I just think it’s one of those things, or two of those things.

“From my point of view, for him, it's the way he's lost. He didn't play well at all against Luke Woodhouse. Luke said himself it was a scrappy game.

"From my point of view, he'll be slightly bothered by the performances, but then he goes and enters the World Youth Championship, which I don't get, but it's entirely up to him!

“We know what he’s like with time management and wanting to get fresh. But maybe he just wants to get back on the winning train.

“Back on that winning feeling, competing round after round. If he does that and wins, good luck to him.”

Littler returned to action this Monday but was edged out 6-5 by Cam Crabtree in the semi-final of the World Youth Championship.

Image: Taylor Lanning