Luke Littler admits that, despite his rapid rise, he still feels he has a long road ahead before he can lay claim to the title of "the greatest ever" in darts. Yet his ambition is unmistakable: he wants to keep ticking off milestones, starting with the rare feat of defending his World Matchplay crown in Blackpool.
He moved a step closer to that objective when he secured a place in the quarter‑finals by edging past Nathan Aspinall 11‑8 in a match that will be remembered for its drama and brilliance. The victory was not just a narrow win; it was a showcase of Littler’s burgeoning talent. He opened the encounter with a perfect nine‑dart leg, a feat that instantly electrified the arena.
Only a few darts later, in the fourth leg, he came agonisingly close to a second perfect leg, missing the double 15 by a whisker. Throughout the contest Littler was a scoring machine, launching fourteen 180s and posting an average of 113.68. That figure is the second‑highest ever recorded at the World Matchplay, trailing only Phil Taylor’s legendary 114.99 performance from 2010. Such statistics underline how Littler is rapidly closing the gap between himself and the sport’s all‑time greats.
His next target is to become the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2017 to win the Matchplay in consecutive years. The current world number one already holds an impressive haul of titles – the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League and the Masters – and he is also defending the Matchplay, Grand Slam, Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals. Littler’s ambition to join that elite company is evident, and he knows that a clean sweep of the major tournaments would cement his status as a future legend. When asked about the constant comparisons to Phil Taylor, Littler replied, “Obviously that talk’s been going on since I first burst onto the scene – ‘will he be the next Phil Taylor?’" He added a touch of humility and a hint of humor, saying, "I have always said, unless I win 16 World Championships and whatever else, then I think I will be the greatest.
Am I going to be around in 16 years' time? Who knows? If I win 16 back‑to‑back World Championships, I am gone." In his epic battle with Aspinall, Littler was a single double‑15 away from achieving two nine‑dart legs in the same match – a milestone that only Taylor has ever accomplished on television. While the first nine‑dart came as a stunning surprise, Littler believes his rigorous practice routine may have prepared him for the possibility.
"I just want to produce my best stats every game I play and I think I have done it again tonight," he said after the match. He reflected on his performance, noting that at one point he was leading the tournament’s average scores, edging close to Phil Taylor’s record. "Everyone is asking me how I did it, but I don’t really know. It was the first leg of the game and then to go on and miss the double 15 again was really gutting," he admitted.
Littler also shared a light‑hearted anecdote about his practice session at home. "I was practising at home today and I did a first to 11 against the dart bot. I actually missed the double 15 and then my sister’s boyfriend went, ‘oh, you’re c**p, you.’ I was saving it till later. And I hit it," he laughed, illustrating how even casual practice can turn into a crucial rehearsal for high‑pressure moments.
For Aspinall, the loss was a bitter pill, but he chose to view it as fuel for future success. In a social‑media statement he described the match as "the most enjoyable game of darts I have played in my career.
I had absolutely everything and I gave it my all. Fair play to Luke Littler, you were simply unreal.
Six treble‑less visits in 19 legs is the stat that jumps out to me. Wow. That has certainly given me the hunger back.
Support was unreal as per." His words underscore how a high‑quality defeat can reignite a competitor’s drive. The tournament’s second‑round action continues on Wednesday, with four marquee match‑ups slated for live broadcast on Sky Sports.
Cameron Menzies will look to build on his impressive win over world No. 2 Luke Humphries when he faces Ross Smith. Gerwyn Price is set to clash with former world champion Rob Cross, while world No.
3 Gian van Veen will meet in‑form Dutchman Wessel Nijman. James Wade will round out the lineup against Ryan Searle. Fans can watch all of this drama unfold on Sky Sports, and those with a NOW subscription can stream the matches without a long‑term contract.
As the competition intensifies, all eyes remain on Littler, who aims to defend his title and continue his march toward the lofty goal of becoming the sport’s greatest ever player.