Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall delivered a classic World Matchplay showdown at Blackpool's historic Winter Gardens, with the world number one producing a flawless nine‑dart leg that helped him clinch an 11‑8 triumph. The opening leg set the tone when Littler, fresh from his Bahrain Darts Masters win over Aspinall in 2024, once again began the match with perfection. His nine‑dart finish – two 180s followed by treble 20, treble 17 and double 15 – sent the crowd into a frenzy and marked the second occasion he has opened a match against Aspinall with a perfect leg. Littler’s average of 113.68 was the second‑highest ever recorded at the World Matchplay, trailing only Phil Taylor’s 114.99 in 2010.
He also amassed 14 maximums during the encounter, underscoring the high‑scoring nature of the contest. After the spectacular opening, Littler continued to dominate, adding a 14‑dart leg in the second sequence. He seemed poised to repeat the nine‑dart feat in the fourth leg, but his ninth dart missed the double 15, prompting a good‑natured jab from Aspinall, who offered his darts to the audience in jest. Despite the early fireworks and a session average of 117, Aspinall showed resilience, holding his throw and staying within a single leg of Littler after the first break.
The second session saw Aspinall raise his own game, taking a 6‑4 lead at the second break and keeping the match competitive. Littler, however, responded with a burst of three consecutive legs on the bounce, including two breaks of throw, to stretch his lead to 10‑7. Aspinall, known for thriving under pressure, fought back fiercely, narrowing the gap to 10‑8 with a series of clutch finishes. Yet Littler remained unshaken.
In the decisive 19th leg, he finished on a 52 finish, sealing the match and prompting a jubilant reaction from the Winter Gardens crowd. Reflecting on the victory, Littler told Sky Sports, "It felt amazing – probably the best game Nathan and I have ever played against each other. I posted an average of 113, while Nathan was around 101. Six treble‑less visits in 21 legs shows how well I performed.
Nathan gave it his all, and when I missed double 5 I knew the 170 was coming! I'm just glad to win; he never gives up.
The nine‑dart just happened – the crowd were booing me at the start but then they turned into cheering supporters. Those are two unbelievable performances for me, and I just have to stay focused. You can never hand a trophy to someone after round one or two; I wanted Luke Humphries to win and to meet him in another final." Littler’s next challenge will be a quarter‑final against Josh Rock, after Rock survived a gritty 11‑6 win over Stephen Bunting. That match featured low averages in the opening session, with both players hovering in the low 70s, but Rock rallied, pulling four legs on the bounce to lead 7‑4 before sealing the victory with a spectacular 140 checkout.
This sets up a rematch of the 2015 semi‑final at the same venue, where Littler edged Rock 17‑14. Meanwhile, fourth seed Michael van Gerwen suffered a stunning exit, losing a tense 14‑12 tie‑break to fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode. The defeat drops Van Gerwen provisionally to world number six and ends his defense of the £100,000 prize fund. The match was a roller‑coaster: Van Duijvenbode claimed the early lead with a 125 checkout and two breaks to go 8‑4 ahead.
Despite battling a shoulder issue, Van Gerwen fought back, hitting a triple bull finish and a crucial break to level at 10‑10. The tie‑break saw Van Duijvenbode produce an 11‑dart leg, finishing with six perfect darts to move 13‑12 ahead, and eventually sealing the win on his seventh match dart with a double 8. Van Duijvenbode will now meet Gary Anderson, who advanced after an 11‑7 victory over Jonny Clayton.
This marks Anderson’s first quarter‑final appearance at the World Matchplay in six years. After a shaky start that left him trailing 4‑1, Anderson roared back with five straight legs and a decisive break in the 15th leg to lead 9‑6, eventually holding his throw to clinch the match on a double 8. The tournament continues on Wednesday with four more high‑stakes matches.
Cameron Menzies will look to capitalize on his impressive win over world number two Luke Humphries when he faces Ross Smith. Gerwyn Price is set to clash with former world champion Rob Cross, while world number three Gian Van Veen will meet in‑form Dutchman Wessel Nijman. James Wade will round out the action against Ryan Searle.
Fans can follow the drama live on Sky Sports or stream the coverage via NOW, which offers a contract‑free viewing experience. The World Matchplay remains one of darts’ most prestigious events, and with Luke Littler defending his title, the competition promises more unforgettable moments, high averages, and perhaps another historic nine‑dart finish as the tournament reaches its climax.