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Littler throws nine-darter in superb Matchplay win
World number one Luke Littler produced a nine-dart finish to open his second-round match at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, en route to an 11-8 victory over fellow Englishman Nathan Aspinall. The win sends the defending champion into the quarter-finals, where he continues his bid to retain the title, and underlines his current dominance of the sport as the tournament's top seed.
Littler's perfect opening leg finished on double 15, and he narrowly missed a second nine-darter moments later. Aspinall fought back to level at 7-7 before Littler pulled away again, eventually sealing victory with a tournament-best-in-decades average of 113.68 and 14 maximums. Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen was knocked out 14-12 by Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Gary Anderson beat Jonny Clayton 11-7 to reach the last eight. Littler will next face the winner of Josh Rock versus Stephen Bunting.
In short
- Luke Littler hit a nine-darter beating Nathan Aspinall 11-8
- Littler reaches World Matchplay quarter-finals with 113.68 average
- Michael van Gerwen knocked out by Dirk van Duijvenbode 14-12
Explained simply
The World Matchplay is one of darts' most prestigious tournaments, held annually in Blackpool. It features the sport's top players competing in a knockout format across multiple rounds. Luke Littler is the world number one and the defending champion of this event.
A nine-dart finish is the highest possible score in a single leg of darts—achieved by scoring the maximum with every dart and finishing with a double. Such finishes are exceptionally rare and demonstrate elite-level accuracy and composure.
Littler's position as the sport's top-ranked player and defending champion means his performances at this tournament carry particular significance. His continued progression reflects his current standing in professional darts.