Luke Littler loses to Michael Smith in first round of Premier League night eight… with the teenager slipping out of play-off spots following loss as Luke Humphries storms to another victory

Littler was third in the table going into event in Dublin but is yet to win a night

World No 1 and league leader Luke Humphries continued his fine form in Ireland

Littler suffered in the table due to Smith loss and Nathan Aspinall also winning

Luke Littler suffered a first-round defeat on night eight of the darts Premier League in Dublin on Thursday as Luke Humphries stormed to another victory.

The 17-year-old went into the night third in the Premier League table with hopes of solidifying his spot in the top four and the play-off spots with ten games left to play.

The nature of the night saw the fixtures decided by the state of the table, with Littler taking on Michael Smith, who was sixth in the table after a difficult run on the back of winning the first night in Cardiff.

Littler missed the bullseye to take out 164 in the first leg against the throw, and he hit six perfect darts in the third leg in his bid to hit his latest nine-darter. He did, however, break Smith’s throw to take advantage in the tie.

Smith however broke back with a 122 checkout, and got the game back on throw, with both players holding until the former world champion secured the win by six legs to four.