Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall delivered a spectacular showdown at the World Matchplay, turning the Winter Gardens in Blackpool into a stage for darts drama. The world number one, Littler, opened the match with a flawless nine-dart leg, ultimately cruising to an 11-8 triumph over the seasoned Aspinall. The perfect leg arrived in the very first leg of the encounter, marking the second occasion Littler has begun a match against Aspinall with a nine-darter, the first having come at the Bahrain Darts Masters in 2024. By finishing the leg in just nine darts, Littler posted a 113.68 average – the second‑highest ever recorded at the World Matchplay, trailing only Phil Taylor’s legendary 114.99 from 2010.
In addition to the immaculate leg, Littler struck 14 maximums (180s) throughout the contest, underscoring his scoring power. The opening salvo set the tone.
Littler launched two 180s, then hit treble‑20, treble‑17 and double‑15 to seal the nine‑dart finish, sending the Blackpool crowd into a frenzy. After that, he followed up with a 14‑dart leg, and appeared poised to repeat the feat in the fourth leg, only to see his ninth dart drift wide of double‑15. Aspinall, ever the showman, joked that he would hand his darts to the audience, inviting anyone brave enough to try and match the extraordinary standard. Despite Littler’s early fireworks and a session average of 117, Aspinall showed resilience.
He held his throw and, after a brief dip, managed to stay within a single leg of the leader at the first interval. The second session saw Aspinall turn the tables, capitalising on his own high‑scoring visits to go 6‑4 ahead at the second break, demonstrating the tenacity that has earned him the nickname "The Nuke." Littler responded by stringing together three legs on the bounce, including two crucial breaks of throw, to stretch his lead to 10‑7.
Yet Aspinall, renowned for thriving under pressure, clawed back two legs in quick succession, narrowing the gap to 10‑8. In the decisive 19th leg, Littler calmly finished on a 52 finish, sealing a hard‑fought victory that left the arena buzzing.
Reflecting on the match, Littler told Sky Sports, "It felt amazing – probably the best game Nathan and I have ever played against each other. I posted a 113 average while Nathan was on 101. Six treble‑less visits in 21 legs shows how well I was playing.
Nathan gave it his all, and when I missed double‑5 I knew the 170 was coming, but I’m just glad to win. The crowd started off booing me, then they were cheering my nine‑dart finish.
It’s been two unbelievable performances for me, and I just have to stay focused. You can never hand a trophy to anyone after round one or two; I wanted Luke Humphries to win and hoped we’d meet in another final." Littler’s next challenge will be a quarter‑final clash with Josh Rock, after Littler dispatched Stephen Bunting 11‑6 in a gritty encounter where neither player reached their usual scoring heights – both averaged in the low 70s during the opening session. Rock, visibly frustrated by his own performance, fought back to take four legs on the bounce and eventually secured the match with a dazzling 140 checkout, setting up a rematch with Littler. Their previous meeting at the same venue in 2015 saw Littler prevail 17‑14 in a semi‑final.
In another headline, fourth seed Michael van Gerwen was eliminated in a nail‑biting 14‑12 tie‑break against fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, a loss that drops the Dutch star provisionally to world number six. Van Gerwen entered the tournament as the defending champion, having won £100,000 the previous year, and his defeat also cost him his world number four ranking.
The Van Gerwen‑Van Duijvenbode duel was a roller‑coaster of drama. Van Duijvenbode seized early momentum, breaking serve to lead 4‑3 and then extending his advantage to 8‑4. Despite battling a shoulder issue, Van Gerwen rallied, hitting a triple‑bullseye finish and a crucial break to level the match at 10‑10. The tie‑break saw Van Duijvenbode deliver an immaculate six‑dart leg, breaking Van Gerwen’s throw and moving ahead 13‑12.
On his seventh match dart, after Van Gerwen missed a chance, Van Duijvenbode hit double‑8 to clinch the victory, roaring in triumph. Van Duijvenbode now prepares to meet Gary Anderson, who reached the quarter‑finals by defeating 2018 champion Jonny Clayton 11‑7. Anderson’s appearance marks his first quarter‑final at the World Matchplay in six years.
After a shaky start that left him trailing 4‑1, Anderson produced a five‑leg streak, taking a 9‑6 lead with a decisive break in the 15th leg and eventually sealing his spot with a double‑8 finish. The tournament’s second day continues with four more marquee matches slated for Wednesday on Sky Sports. Cameron Menzies will look to build on his impressive win over world number two Luke Humphries when he faces Ross Smith. Gerwyn Price will take on former world champion Rob Cross, while world number three Gian Van Veen meets in‑form Dutchman Wessel Nijman.
James Wade will round out the action against Ryan Searle. Fans can follow the ongoing drama via Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, video highlights, analysis and more. For those who prefer streaming, the darts action is available on NOW, offering a contract‑free way to watch the competition live. As the World Matchplay progresses, the question on everyone’s mind is who will ultimately lift the trophy.
Luke Littler, the defending champion, remains a strong contender, but the field is stacked with talent and the potential for further upsets. The Winter Gardens continues to deliver unforgettable moments, and the excitement shows no signs of fading as the tournament moves toward its climax.