Luke Littler’s historic bid to complete the set of major televised darts tournaments has stalled once again, with Ross Smith claiming the European Championship title in Dortmund. The 19-year-old phenom, who is chasing Michael van Gerwen’s exclusive record of winning every major event on the PDC calendar, entered the German showdown with the European Open as the only significant gap in his trophy cabinet. However, his campaign came to an abrupt and disappointing halt, leaving the elusive “full set” dream deferred for another season.
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The tournament produced one of the most surprising upsets of Littler’s young career, as he suffered a heavy quarter-final defeat to Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski. The young Englishman, who had been in formidable form leading up to the event, appeared well below his usual standard on the day, failing to find the rhythm required to overcome the experienced challenger. This result stands out as a significant blemish on his otherwise dominant trajectory, highlighting the unpredictable nature of high-stakes darts where even the world’s best can fall short.
Littler addressed the disappointment on social media, acknowledging that despite strong preparation, his game simply did not click during the match. “Played well in the lead up to today, but just didn’t click for me earlier,” the 19-year-old posted on Instagram, offering a candid reflection on his off day. While the loss ends his immediate hopes for the full set, the young star remains on a rapid ascent, with the European Championship remaining the final hurdle he must clear to join the elite company of all-time greats in the sport.
Source: The Independent Sport
