Luke Littler's rival withdraws from match after just two legs at Players Championship

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Luke Littler's rival Ricardo Pietreczko withdrew from his opening-round Players Championship clash with Jeffrey de Zwaan, lasting just two legs before conceding a walkover.The German number two was averaging below 60 points when he pulled out of the event.No official explanation has been provided for the early exit, though German commentator Fabian Dippold pointed to dartitis as the likely cause.Dartitis is a psychological condition that impacts players' ability to release the dart smoothly.

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TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Pietreczko's troubles began before his withdrawal, having suffered a 6-4 defeat to fellow German Kai Gotthardt just 24 hours earlier with an average of only 80.46 points.Reports indicate that the German has been battling issues with his throwing action since the European Tour event in Munich.In response to these difficulties, he has experimented with changes to both his grip and release technique.His last match abandonment came in 2024, though on that occasion,...

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