Luke Littler beaten 10-8 by Damon Heta in classic encounter at UK Open as he exits at quarter-final stage; teenager back action on Night Six of Premier League Darts on Thursday, live on Sky Sports; Littler reached January's World Championship final at Alexandra Palace
Sunday 3 March 2024 23:10, UK
Luke Littler's pursuit of a first major PDC title was ended by Damon Heta in a high-quality quarter-final at the UK Open.
Littler - runner-up to Luke Humphries in January's World Championship before winning the Bahrain Darts Masters later that month - was downed 10-8 by the Australian in Minehead on Sunday.
The 17-year-old found himself 9-6 down to Heta but fought back and seemed poised to set up a last-leg decider before squandering two darts at double 10 for 9-9.
Heta returned to take out double 16, his fourth match dart, to win a game in which he averaged 106.04 compared to Littler's 104.77 and his checkout success of 48 per cent was eight better than his opponent's.
Heta went on to be beaten 11-6 by Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semi-finals before Van den Bergh defeated world No 1 Humphries 11-10 in a gripping final.
The UK Open, dubbed the FA Cup of darts due to its open draw, was won in 2023 by Andrew Gilding as he beat Michael van Gerwen 11-10 to claim his first televised title.
Gilding was dumped out in the fifth round this year following a 10-1 thrashing at the hands of 2017 champion Peter Wright, while three-time winner Van Gerwen was dispatched a round earlier, beaten 10-7 by Mensur Suljovic.
Littler, who knocked out James Wade, Martin Schindler and Dave Chisnall to reach the quarter-finals in Minehead, will return to action on night six of the Premier League in Brighton on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Arena from 7pm.
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