Luke Littler commenced his World Matchplay title defence in remarkable fashion on Saturday, achieving an average of over 109. The world No 1 initially found himself level with debutant Niko Springer at 5-5, but then shifted into high gear, winning five of the next six legs to dismantle the German with a 109.53 average. Littler's average soared to over 123 in the final six legs, securing his spot in the second round at the Winter Gardens.
'It felt good, it felt very nice,' the 19-year-old from Warrington said. 'After the break, I felt really good and found another gear to finish it off.' Littler will face Nathan Aspinall in the second round, who debuted his new shirt with a 10-5 win over Joe Cullen. Aspinall fired in a 105.32 average and took out a 167 checkout, saying, 'I am very happy with my performance, and I think I will be alright in the next game.' Other winners included Stephen Bunting, who defied a comeback from Niels Zonneveld, and Josh Rock, who beat Luke Woodhouse 10-4. The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues from July 18-26, with a 32-player field competing for the Phil Taylor Trophy.