Luke Littler stunned by sensational Gerwyn Price at Bahrain Masters

The 17-year-old was playing in his first tournament since claiming his maiden world title but was no match for the Welshman

World champion Luke Littler was knocked out of the Bahrain Masters quarter-finals after a 6-2 defeat to Gerwyn Price.

The 2021 world champion delivered a superb performance to surge into the last four, averaging a mighty 115.31 and hitting seven 180s in just eight legs.

Littler had no answer to Welshman Price, who started the match with a 180 and missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish in the sixth leg – a leg he lost.

Littler, 17, in his first tournament since claiming his maiden world title earlier this month, averaged 105.12 but had a disappointing day on the doubles, checking out at just 22.2 per cent.

World number one Luke Humphries came through a thrilling battle with Nathan Aspinall in the opening match of the day in Bahrain, winning the deciding leg to progress 6-5.

Humphries will meet Stephen Bunting after he produced a dominant performance to thrash Chris Dobey 6-0.

PA