Luke Littler was a surprise casualty in the first round of Players Championship 11 as Cameron Menzies stormed to the title in Leicester.
World champion and Premier League leader Littler averaged just 90.11 compared to his opponent’s 92.74 as he was beaten 6-3 by 22-year-old Irishman Dylan Slevin.
The 18-year-old was joined on the opening-round scrapheap by Michael van Gerwen, with the three-time world champion losing a deciding leg to go down 6-5 to fellow Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven.
Former world champion Gerwyn Price also fell at the first hurdle, the Welshman bowing out 6-4 against countryman Rob Owen. Meanwhile, Raymond van Barneveld lost a tight tussle 6-4 to PDC newcomer Tom Bissell.
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Littler gestures to the Berlin crowd as jeers ring out after a visit of 26 in his match vs Chris Dobey in the Premier League
Menzies reigns in Leicester
In Littler, Van Gerwen and Price’s absence, Menzies beat Peter Wright 8-3 in the final to seal his first tournament victory of the year.
Menzies defeated Matthew Dennant 6-2 in the quarter-finals before a 7-2 semi-final victory over Niels Zonneveld sealed his passage to the final.
Wright overcame Josh Rock 6-5 in the quarter-finals before coming through a corking semi-final against fellow two-time world champion Gary Anderson to reach the final.
Cameron Menzies claimed his second PDC Tour title with victory at the Players Championship 11 in Leicester
Menzies ‘heading in right direction’ ahead of full-time switch
Menzies told PDC TV: “This means a lot to me because it proves the title I won last year wasn’t by luck.
“I know how well I’ve been playing, and I wouldn’t have been disheartened if I hadn’t won another title because my two previous years on tour have been nowhere near this standard.
“I’m leaving my job soon to take up darts full-time; I’m not as good as I’d like to be yet, but I’m heading in the right direction.”
PDC Players Championship 11: Results
Quarter-finals
Gary Anderson 6-2 Damon Heta
Cameron Menzies 6-2 Matthew Dennant
Niels Zonneveld 6-1 Adam Lipscombe
Peter Wright 6-5 Josh Rock
Semi-finals
Peter Wright 7-5 Gary Anderson
Cameron Menzies 7-2 Niels Zonneveld
Final
Cameron Menzies 8-3 Peter Wright
Where does the Premier League head next?
Premier League Darts heads to Manchester for Night 10
The Premier League continues at the AO Arena, Manchester on Thursday, April 10 as home favourite Littler and Price clash in a titanic encounter, while Van Gerwen faces Chris Dobey. Watch Night 10 of Premier League Darts, in Manchester, live on Sky Sports Action from 7pm – stream with NOW.
Sky Sports will once again be the home of the Premier League in 2025, with every night exclusively live along with the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and more! Stream darts and more top sport with NOW
