DARTS sensation Luke Littler produced a stunning nine-dart finish in the opening leg of his Bahrain Masters quarter-final against Nathan Aspinall.

The 16-year-old World Championship runner-up, who spent his early childhood in Runcorn, needed just three visits to take a first-leg lead over fellow Englishman Aspinall on his way to a 6-3 victory to set up a semi-final clash with Gerwyn Price.

Littler’s first three darts found the treble 20 bed, he repeated the feat on his return before checking out on treble 20, treble 19, double 12 for the perfect leg.

The former Padgate Academy student leapt into the air and the crowd in The Dome at Bahrain International Circuit went wild.

His good friend Aspinall, who has the same manager as Littler, could only applaud, embrace and have a word in the ear of the thrilled teenager, who is only the second thrower to manage the feat in 61 World Series of Darts matches - the other being Phil 'The Power' Taylor.

Littler said on ITV4: "It's good to do one on TV and the first one of the year goes to me. I hopefully hit a few more.

"I'm just glad to win, I played really well there.

"I just take it game by game and if I do win, I win. If I lose my next game it is what it is. But I don't think about losing, I just think about winning."

Price defeated world number one Luke Humphries 6-4 to seal his place against Littler in the last four.