Blackpool: Luke Littler throws nine-darter in World Matchplay win over Nathan Aspinall

By George Aldridge — 21 July 2026 — 3 min read

Littler’s Nine-Darter and Victory

Luke Littler, the world number one, secured his place in the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay with an 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall. The match, held at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, featured a thrilling nine-darter from Littler in the opening leg. He completed the perfect leg by finishing on double 15, immediately setting a high standard for the contest.

The Warrington teenager celebrated by cupping his ears, soaking in the crowd’s reaction. Aspinall, his fellow Englishman, responded with disbelief before offering a high five. The excitement continued into the fourth leg, where Littler nearly achieved a second nine-darter, with his arrow narrowly missing the mark on double 15.

Aspinall, in a lighthearted moment, turned to the crowd and jokingly offered his darts, questioning if anyone else wanted to challenge the 19-year-old. Despite the early brilliance from Littler, Aspinall refused to let his opponent pull away, battling back to level the match at 7-7. However, Littler, the defending champion, then reeled off the next three legs to regain control.

The match saw Aspinall briefly rally again, but a missed shot at tops in the 19th leg allowed Littler to check out 52, sealing his victory. Littler finished the match with an impressive 113.68 average, which stands as the second highest in the tournament’s history. His performance also included a total of 14 180s.

Post-Match Reactions and Tournament Progress

Following his win, Luke Littler shared his thoughts with Sky Sports. He described the nine-darter as something that “just happened.” He noted the crowd’s initial booing, which then turned into cheering for him. Littler expressed that the match was likely the best he and Nathan Aspinall had played against each other, acknowledging that it’s never over when playing Aspinall due to his persistent nature.

Littler also highlighted his strong performances in the tournament so far, stating he has delivered “two unbelievable performances.” He expressed his hope to win the title again but emphasized the need to focus on his next opponent. Littler is set to face the winner of the final second-round match between Josh Rock and Stephen Bunting, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

In other matches on Tuesday, Michael van Gerwen’s campaign in the World Matchplay concluded. He suffered a 14-12 defeat against his Dutch compatriot, Dirk van Duijvenbode. Van Gerwen had mounted a comeback from an 8-4 deficit to draw level at 10-10, but Van Duijvenbode ultimately closed out the contest.

Scotland’s Gary Anderson also advanced to the last eight of the competition. He secured an 11-7 win over Welshman Jonny Clayton. These results set the stage for further quarter-final action in the tournament.

Upcoming Schedule and Key Matches

The World Matchplay continues with its second-round matches. The schedule for Wednesday’s action, commencing at 19:15 BST, features several key encounters. These include Cameron Menzies against Ross Smith, and Gerwyn Price facing Rob Cross.

Additionally, Gian van Veen is scheduled to play Wessel Nijman, and James Wade will compete against Ryan Searle. These matches will determine the remaining players who will progress further in the tournament, aiming for the title.

The tournament has seen strong performances and close contests, with players like Luke Littler delivering memorable moments such as his nine-darter. The competition continues to unfold with high stakes for all participants.

Source: bbc.co.uk