Players Championship 27 Round-Up | Jermaine Wattimena snares third ProTour title as Luke Littler loses late in Minehead quest

The Players Championship series continued on Tuesday for the first time in a little while, but it wasn't Luke Littler who managed to seal the title as 'The Nuke' reached the Quarter-Finals before his seemingly imperious run came to an end.

This was at the hands of Jermaine Wattimena who win the title defeating Kevin Doets in the final 8-6. as Littler now who wanted to likely try and easily win a few ProTour titles this week and then sail into the sunset is more likely now to have to return later on in the season as a result of this defeat even if he goes all the way on Wednesday.

But often that is the hard knocks of the ProTour, with Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall experiencing in some cases elation in the form of Aspinall managing to hit a nine-dart finish in his first darts in a month. While for the former two, it was an early exit and more questions than answers.

Humphries like Littler has often decided against playing on the ProTour and often the reasons why are often the proof being in the pudding as Cam Crabtree who ironically was then skittled out by Martijn Dragt averaged 98 in disposing of the ninth seed 6-3. 'Cool Hand' isn't really in a predicament though like most of his rivals.

Littler saw off 16-year-old Archie Self who was making his ProTour debut and it almost had the feel of being thrown to the wolves as he had to face off against Littler straight away. He equipped himself well but lost 6-2. Wins followed for Littler over Arno Merk, William O'Connor and Chris Dobey as it looked increasingly likely that Littler would steamroll through. But often is the case with the ProTour, a stumbling block is usually there eventually and that was Jermaine Wattimena who won 6-5 in the Quarter-Final and with Luke Woodhouse defeated as the final bastion of players other than Dutchman, a Double Dutch final was set.

Michael van Gerwen also lost very early to Nick Kenny as his day also went up in smoke so as ever it was very much the two Dutch stars not expected, but the ones who do the business on the ProTour including Nijman who reached the semi's.

Doets had seen off Wessel Nijman, Cameron Menzies, Rob Cross, Wesley Plaisier, Chris Landman and Yorick Hofkens en route to the final so he had a pretty tough day. But he was defeated by Wattimena in the final who claims his first while being with Winmau who he recently signed to so a big day for 'Machine Gun' who won two titles in 2025.

Doets lead 1-0 early breaking immediately to start the final. Doets made it 2-0 holding throw not able to hit 131 but he returned only for Wattimena to break on 25 after missing 122 and then he hit 48 for 2-2.

Wattimena hit 100 to leave 105 on his throw then he left double 16 and he made it 3-2 holding throw. Doets left 110 on his throw but Wattimena was waiting to pounce on double 20. Doets missed it and Wattimena hit pinning double 20 for 4-2. He was now throwing for 5-2 but Doets missed the bull for 5-3 and to hold and Wattimena streaks further clear on double eight to make it 6-2. Averaging 94 in the process. He was throwing to go one away.

Doets couldn't pin 96. But Wattimena couldn't get a shot at 78. Doets returned after the miscount for 6-3 and was now throwing for 6-4. Wattimena hit 50 to go one away but he missed bull on 85 for the win and Doets hit double 16 for 7-4 down. Doets missed two darts but pinned double three for 7-5 down. Questions started to head the way of Wattimena.

Doets missed 121 but with 147 not going for Wattimena, 'Hawk Eye' returned for 7-6 down and he was now throwing for a decider. But suddenly Wattimena fired back up. He pinned 76 to seal the title. A third in all.