Leighton Bennett loses special record after 53 minutes to Luke Littler

Three nine-darters were hit in yesterday's Players Championship One, with Leighton Bennett, Mickey Mansell, and Luke Littler all nailing perfection throughout the day.

When 18-year-old Bennett achieved the feat in leg four of his second round match against Lukas Wenig, which he won 6-5, he became the youngest ever player to hit a nine-darter on the pro-tour.

But, with 17-year-old Luke Littler still in the competition, it took just 53 minutes after Bennett's magical leg for the record to be broken.

Littler, in his third round match against Michele Turetta, added the third nine-darter of the day in the seventh and match-winning leg, sealing a 6-1 win and taking Bennett's record in the process.

Leighton Bennett hold the record for youngest player ever to throw a nine-darter on the @OfficialPDC Pro Tour. He hold that record for a total of 53 minutes, than Luke Littler did the same.

— FDI (Darts Orakel Power Rankings) (@FDI_Index) February 12, 2024

Players Championship One was the maiden Pro Tour event for both Bennett and Littler, and while Littler now holds the record, both secured their place in the PDC history books yesterday.

While Bennett was edged out in a 6-5 loss to Cameron Menzies in the last 32, Littler continued to sail through, and in his duel with Menzies in the last 16, he missed double 12 for a second nine-darter of the day.

Beating Menzies, James Hurrell, Alan Soutar and Ryan Searle in the final, Littler capped off his maiden Pro tour appearance with a win.

The PDC's second Pro Tour event, Players Championship Two begins later today.