Cork-based Radek Szaganski edges out Luke Littler at Players Championship

Cork-based Radek Szaganski defeated teenage darts sensation Luke Littler at the Players Championship in Wigan on Tuesday.

Littler was pipped 6-5 by Szaganski, who was born in Poland but has been residing in Cork since 2006, just a day after hitting a nine-dart finish en route to victory on his Players Championship debut.

Littler had looked set to launch back-to-back assaults on the final stages after opening with an impressive 6-4 win over experienced former UK Open winner Danny Noppert.

Szaganski made it to the second round of the World Darts Championship in December, where he was defeated by Raymond van Barneveld.

Former world champion Gary Anderson won the title on Tuesday with an 8-5 win over Ryan Searle, the same player whom Littler had beaten in the final on Monday.

Anderson was on blistering form, recording a career-high 117.12 average in his first round win over Andy Baetens and missing double 12 for a nine-darter on three occasions during the day.

"Yesterday I felt like a kid at a new school, I was nervous but today I felt more settled and it showed in my performances," Anderson told PDC.tv.

"It's been a long day and I’m happy to come out on top against a great player in Ryan."

Additional reporting: PA