Nathan Aspinall throws two nine-dart finishes but loses final as Luke Littler suffers early exit

Nathan Aspinall fired two nine-dart shots in the Players Championship 31 but was blown out in the final – with Luke Littler going out early.

Aspinall, 34, produced excellent darts in his 6-4 win over Ireland’s Steve Lennon in the second round, then repeated the feat by beating Germany’s Lukas Wenig 6-5 in the last 16.

Englishman Aspinall took a 2-0 lead against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena in the final in Wigan.

But Wattimena swung eight feet into the jump to clinically outpoint Aspinall and win his second title of the season.

Luke Littler, who was defeated by Beau Greaves in the semi-finals of the World Junior Championship on Monday, was eliminated from the first round by losing 6-4 to his English friend Ritchie Edhouse.

The 18-year-old world champion is currently ranked 67th. Players Championship standings, external and has three events to secure a place in the top 64 to qualify for the finals.

Michael van Gerwen was also in danger of not qualifying after losing 6-4 to Dom Taylor at the same stage and being eliminated.

The Dutchman sits 92nd in the rankings and must reach the final of the Players Championship 32 on Wednesday to guarantee his place as he misses the last two competitions due to his pre-booked holiday.

34 Players Championship events are held throughout the year, with the competition’s finals taking place in Minehead from 21 to 23 November.