Hit at the World Darts Championship
Strong Suljovic loses to merciless Littler
The big surprise failed to materialize. Mensur Suljovic was eliminated in the third round of the World Darts Championship in London late on Saturday evening. Despite a strong performance, the Viennese had to admit defeat to world number one Luke Littler with an expected clear 0:4.
The 18-year-old defending champion gave the 53-year-old no chance. Littler has still not dropped a set in the tournament. Suljovic was denied the fourth World Championship quarter-final of his career.
Littler showed an outstanding performance in the Alexandra Palace. The darts prodigy broke Suljovic in the first leg and took the first set 3:0. Suljovic increased his scoring average in the second leg, but Littler finished it off with a 105-point shot, leaving the underdog with no chance of winning a leg.
Littler made the first small mistake in the second leg of the third set. Suljovic fired up the crowd and took the score to 1:1 for the first time. The Serbian-born player also made it 2:2 with another break, but the set went to Littler again thanks to a 124 finish. "The Nuke" took the fourth set 3:1.
After two 3:1 wins in the first two rounds, Suljovic showed his best game in the tournament, but ultimately went unrewarded despite an average of 96.21. His appearances in the last 16 at the 2011, 2016 and 2018 World Championships remain "The Gentle's" best World Championship results after 17 appearances.
"A super lad"
Nevertheless, Suljovic had nothing but words of praise for the champion after the match. Speaking to Sport1, he said: "A great game from him. He closed the door on me every time. He doesn't complain, plays his game and wins. Many can take an example from this guy. Because he's also a great lad in his private life."
You can watch the studio interview with Suljovic - recorded before the World Championships - in full length here:
After all: by reaching the third round and winning 35,000 pounds (approx. 40,000 euros) in prize money, Suljovic has moved up a few places in the world rankings from 60th position.
Littler now against Heta or Cross
For Littler, who revealed on the sidelines of the World Championships that he once had crossed eyes and therefore had to undergo an eye operation at kindergarten age, there is much more at stake. One million pounds is on offer for the world championship title. At the last edition of the World Championships it was half that amount.
The top star will face the winner of the match between Australian Damon Heta and his English compatriot Rob Cross on Sunday (not before 3 p.m.) in the round of 16 on Monday. Littler had triumphed against Cross, the 2018 World Champion, in the semi-finals of his World Championship debut at the age of 16 at the start of 2024. The following day, the teenager suffered his only defeat in a World Championship tournament to date in the final.
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