FOR the first time in this year’s Premier League Darts, Luke Littler has bowed out at the quarter-final stage.

Having won at least one match in his first two nights in the tournament, the Warringtonian thrower was edged out by Gerwyn Price in the Night Three quarters in Glasgow.

In a to-and-fro match that went down to a last-leg decider, the 17-year-old was visibly frustrated at failing to pull off an attempted “double-double” finish in the 11th and final leg, allowing Price to claim the victory.

Both players came under intense pressure on their own throw in a game of heavy scoring, with two holds to start before the chaos that followed.

Littler, who spent the early years of his childhood in Runcorn, had the first break of throw to go 2-1 up and as his average nudged 122, he looked set to extend his good form.

Back came Price, however, and he capitalised on Littler missing double 20 to see a potential 3-1 deficit become a level match.

Price’s doubling then deserted him, missing six to take the lead and allow Littler back in – the 17-year-old just missed the bullseye for a 170 check-out but was allowed another visit and hit his favoured double 10 to break again.

Again, though, “The Iceman” responded as he just missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish before missing another three darts at double six. He eventually hit on the fifth attempt after Littler had missed a dart at “tops” to hold throw.

The to-and-fro continued – a superb 138 check-out allowed Littler to lead again but a sloppy leg on his own throw allowed Price to break straight back and then hold his own throw to move himself to the brink.

Littler’s throw was then under big pressure, which was not helped by a “bounce-out” but he kept his cool having survived a match dart when Price missed double 20, nailing a check-out of 57 to set up the decider.

This time, though, he was on the wrong side of the result and he will now look forward to Night Four of the tournament in Newcastle next Thursday.