Michael Van Gerwen jokingly put his fingers on Luke Littler after failing to put a glove on his rival on the Czech Darts Open on Sunday.
The 17-year-old darts sensation rewrote the historical past books twice within the event together with his second and third spherical wins over Nathan Aspinall and Damon Heta respectively.
In Littler’s 6-1 win over Aspinall, he scored a tournament-record common of 110.43, earlier than crushing it in his 6-3 win towards Heta with a mean of 116.51.
And he did not cease there, destroying Van Gerwen within the quarterfinals, who additionally had one other spectacular common of 112.19.
The Dutchman praised {the teenager} after the match, the place he posted a photograph of him jokingly choking the teenager.
“This is not going to occur once more,” he wrote on X with a laughing face emoji.
“Incredible sport by Luke, what a expertise. All the perfect.”
However when the semifinal got here round, Littler’s luck ran out.
World champion Luke Humphries beat him 7-4, and the 29-year-old recorded an 8-1 victory over Kim Huybrechts within the closing to assert the £30,000 prize.
As Littler and Humphries embraced on the finish of the match, Littler appeared upset at not with the ability to declare one other event title.
Sky Sports activities commentator Dan Dawson mentioned: “It was a match of surprisingly prime quality.
“The world No.1 has asserted his authority, Littler retires with a event common of over 110.
“As you possibly can see, he’s upset to not have accomplished top-of-the-line European tour campaigns we’ve got ever seen.”
Like Van Gerwen, Humphries praised the Premier League darts champion.
He mentioned: “I believe I performed a stable sport. Once I performed Ritchie Edhouse in my first sport I felt good, however I felt like I wanted a spark.
“It sort of occurred immediately. I felt that spark once more. I nonetheless wish to change one thing, I nonetheless know that there’s one other degree in me that may enhance.
“Luke was in all probability one of many incredible gamers of the event.
“However I knew I may beat him. I’ve accomplished it many occasions and I believed in myself.
“It is a great way to cap off what hasn’t been my finest ProTour 12 months.”