Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall delivered a dramatic showdown at the World Matchplay in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, a contest that will be remembered for its high‑quality darts and a spectacular nine‑dart finish. The world‑number‑one Littler opened the match with flawless precision, completing a perfect leg on his very first throw and ultimately securing an 11‑8 triumph over the seasoned Englishman. The opening leg set the tone for the entire encounter.
Littler, already in a blistering rhythm, launched two maximum 180s before lining up treble‑20, treble‑17 and double‑15 to complete the nine‑dart miracle. It was the second occasion this season that Littler has begun a match against Aspinall with a perfect leg, the first being at the Bahrain Darts Masters earlier in 2024. The feat placed his average at 113.68, the second‑highest ever recorded at the World Matchplay, trailing only Phil Taylor’s legendary 114.99 in 2010.
Over the course of the match Littler also piled up 14 maximums, underscoring his relentless scoring power. After the flawless start, Littler continued to dominate, compiling a 14‑dart leg in the second set. He seemed poised to repeat his nine‑dart heroics in the fourth leg, but his ninth dart drifted wide of double‑15.
In a light‑hearted moment, Aspinall offered his darts to the crowd, joking that anyone could try to match the extraordinary standard set by Littler. Despite the early fireworks and a staggering 117 average in the opening session, Aspinall showed the resilience that has become his hallmark. He held his own throw and, after a brief dip, managed to stay just one leg behind when the first break of throw occurred. The second session saw Aspinall seize the initiative, pulling ahead 6‑4 at the second break and demonstrating that he could match Littler’s scoring bursts when required.
Littler, however, refused to be rattled. He responded by taking three consecutive legs on the bounce, breaking Aspinall’s throw twice and extending his lead to 10‑7. Yet Aspinall, known for thriving under pressure, fought back fiercely. He narrowed the gap to 10‑8 with a series of clutch finishes, showing why he is nicknamed "The Nuke" for his explosive potential.
The climax arrived in the 19th and deciding leg. Littler, maintaining his composure, hit a tidy 52 finish on the double‑top segment, sealing a hard‑fought victory in front of an electric Blackpool crowd.
After the match, Littler reflected on the experience, telling 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 performed.
Nathan gave it his all, and when I missed double‑5 I knew the 170 was coming! The nine‑dart just happened; the crowd went from booing me at the start to cheering me on. It was two unbelievable performances for me, and I just had to stay focused. You can’t hand out a trophy after round one or two; I wanted Luke Humphries to win and meet us in another final." Littler’s next challenge will be against Josh Rock in the quarter‑finals.
Rock earned his place by defeating Stephen Bunting 11‑6, a match in which both players struggled to find their usual high averages, hovering in the low 70s during the opening session. Rock, visibly frustrated by his own performance, rallied to win four consecutive legs on the bounce, pulling ahead 7‑4 before clinching the match with a spectacular 140 checkout. The two have a history; Littler overcame Rock 17‑14 in a semi‑final at the same venue back in 2015.
Meanwhile, fourth seed Michael van Gerwen suffered a stunning exit, losing 14‑12 in a tense tie‑break against fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode. The defeat dropped Van Gerwen from world number four to number six and ended his £100,000 Matchplay defence. Van Duijvenbode seized early momentum, breaking the throw to lead 4‑3 and then extending his advantage to 8‑4. Despite battling a shoulder issue, Van Gerwen fought back, hitting a triple‑bull finish and a crucial break to level the match at 10‑10.
In the decisive tie‑break, Van Duijvenbode produced a flawless 11‑dart leg, including six perfect darts to clinch the final leg and the match, later celebrating with a roar after hitting double‑8. The Dutchman’s victory set up a quarter‑final clash with Gary Anderson, who had dispatched Jonny Clayton 11‑7. Anderson’s appearance in the last eight marked his first at this stage in six years.
After a shaky start that left him trailing 1‑4, Anderson rallied with five straight legs and a decisive break in the 15th leg to go up 9‑6, eventually sealing his place with a double‑8 finish. The tournament’s second day continued with four more marquee matches broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Cameron Menzies, fresh from a major upset over world number two Luke Humphries, faced Ross Smith. Gerwyn Price took on former world champion Rob Cross, while world number three Gian Van Veen met in‑form Dutchman Wessel Nijman. James Wade rounded out the slate against Ryan Searle.
As the World Matchplay progresses, all eyes remain on defending champion Luke Littler, who will look to retain his title amid a field of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers. Fans can follow every dart thrown on Sky Sports or stream the action through NOW, ensuring that the excitement of Blackpool’s historic venue reaches a global audience.