LUKE LITTLER missed out on Premier League glory as he suffered with the FLU.
The teen world champion was a shadow of his normal self as he lost out 6-4 in the semi-finals to Michael van Gerwen in Antwerp on Thursday night.
Littler, 19, extended his hoodoo over Luke Humphries with a fifth successive win in the quarters but finally bowed out to the flying Dutchman.
The defeat leaves The Nuke mid-table after just two weeks.
He said before the loss: “A bit of flu going on but this is darts, we’ve just got to get on with it.
“My game at the minute is going well, playing well. Last week didn’t go to plan but it’s a fresh week.
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“Everyone knows, I’ve said it for the past two years, I’ve won both European tours in Belgium, get a Premier League here. The PDC have sorted it.”
Van Gerwen began the stronger, immediately breaking Littler’s throw with double 10.
The Nuke then returned the compliment with tops to level up the match. Littler took the lead with a very clinical 107 with double 16 kill.
MVG soon levelled on the same double. Littler then missed a bull for the Big Fish 170 and the Dutchman hit double eight to break throw and go in front again at 3-2.
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But back came Littler with 74 and double 10 to break back in a see-saw encounter.
A wonderful 74 from MVG brought another huge break of throw to lead 4-3. But once again Littler took the next with double 10 to go level.
Littler then missed three darts at double six and Van Gerwen broke his throw yet again to lead 5-4. He then wrapped it up with double 16.
Littler had been let off the hook in his quarters opener.
Luke Humphries led their quarter-final 4-1 and then missed three match darts to miss out in a deciding leg.
It now means that Humphries, who was clearly furious with himself for the misses, has lost five successive clashes with The Nuke over eight months, his last win in the Premier League final last May.
MVG failed to repeat last week’s success in the final, losing 6-3 to Gerwyn Price.
Littler took to social media following the conclusion of the night’s darts action.
He looked on the bright side as he managed to claim his first points of the Premier League Darts.
He wrote on Instagram: “First points on the board and still a lot more to come this season. See you soon Scotland.”
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