Luke Littler has apologised for denying a fan a huge payout by failing to hit a nine-darter against Ryan Meikle. The Nuke was agonisingly close to a perfect leg in the opening set, missing D12 for what would have been his fifth of the year.

Any nine-darters at Alexandra Palace this year will result in one lucky fan winning £60,000 from sponsors Paddy Power. A man named Kris landed the mammoth cash prize when Christian Kist achieved the feat during his match against Madars Razma.

Littler was just one dart away from giving another fan an extra special Christmas present, but the spectator went home empty-handed.

“It’s definitely becoming a frustration in a good way,” said Littler when asked by Sky Sports if the rule was adding extra pressure.

“Obviously, as soon as you make the switch to the treble 19, your eyes light up. I heard the camera pan around to the winner, so I’m sorry whoever you are! I’ll try again.”

Littler posted nine-dart legs at the Bahrain Darts Masters, Players Championship, Belgian Darts Open and in the Premier League final. There is still time for him to become the first player in PDC history to record five perfect legs in a calendar year.

His latest near-miss followed unsuccessful attempts against both Lourence Ilagan and Jermaine Wattimena at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Littler recently said that he was considering other ways to close out a leg after opening with six perfect darts, but he admitted it did not come into his thinking against Meikle.

“I didn’t even think about the 51,” he explained. “Throughout the game, the cover shots were OK. I left 265 a few times and hit the T19 well, but I might have to take a moment to think about the T17.”

Littler was overcome with emotion at the end of the match, cutting short his on-stage interview after bursting into tears. He later admitted that it was the most difficult game of his career, with nerves taking hold early on.

“It was probably the toughest game I’ve ever played,” he said. “I had to fight until the end. As soon as the question came on stage and then boom, the tears came. It was just a bit too much to speak on stage.

“It is the worst game I have played. I have never felt anything like that tonight. Coming into it I was fine, but as soon as [referee] George Noble said: ‘Game on’… I couldn’t throw them.”