Shock exit for Price as Littler advances at PDC world championship

Luke Littler continued his impressive run at the PDC World Championship, reaching the third round, while former champion Gerwyn Price suffered a surprising first-round exit, Sport360NG reports.

Price, who claimed the world title in 2021 and had boldly predicted he would secure a second, was defeated 3-0 by Dutch qualifier Wesley Plaisier. Despite recording a higher average of 95.83, the world number nine struggled on the doubles, with Plaisier converting 56% of his attempts to secure a landmark victory. “I can’t believe it, I’m so over the moon. It’s my biggest victory ever. I don’t know how I did it,” Plaisier said after his win, setting up a third-round clash with Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski.

Meanwhile, defending champion Littler, 18, maintained his dominant form with a straight-sets win over David Davies. Davies, who had taken leave from his role as an NHS area manager to compete at Alexandra Palace, missed six darts at double in the opening set and mistakenly walked off stage mid-game. Littler will now face Mensur Suljovic, who earlier overcame a slow-play controversy with Joe Cullen, denying accusations of deliberate gamesmanship.

Littler, who became the youngest world champion in January at 17 after defeating Michael van Gerwen, has enjoyed a remarkable 2025, adding five major titles to his record and claiming the world number one ranking. “Since the Grand Slam and Grand Prix, the talk has been the build-up to the Worlds. Back-to-back is the only thing I want,” Littler said. His victory extended his unbeaten run in senior events to 15 matches, dating back to late October.

Suljovic, 53, rebuffed claims from Cullen that his slow play constituted cheating following a second-round 3-1 win. “I never ever do this as a provocation,” he said. “I do it only for my game. Sorry Joe, I never do this, love you man.” Cullen, who had won the first set and held a 2-1 lead in the fourth, expressed frustration on social media, calling the tactic “plain cheating” and “not darts.”

Other notable results saw Martin Schindler recover from early setbacks to defeat Keane Barry 3-0, while 2018 champion Rob Cross overcame Ian White 3-1. Krzysztof Ratajski also reached the third round after a 3-1 win over Ryan Joyce, and Luke Woodhouse advanced with a straight-sets victory against Max Hopp.