World Matchplay Darts: Nine darters hit in epic 11-8 win over Nathan Aspinall as Luke Little beats Michael van Gerwen | Darts News

Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall produced a world matchplay epic, with the world No 1 hitting a nine-darter en route to an impressive 11-8 win at Blackpool’s Winter Garden.

Littler’s nine-darter came in the opening leg, the second time he has found perfection against Aspinall in the first leg since the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters.

His 113.68 is the second highest average ever recorded in World Matchplay, just behind Phil Taylor’s 114.99 in 2010. He also hit 14 180s in the competition.

In the epitome of ‘start as you mean to go on’, world number one Littler hit two 180s, then pinned T20, T17 and D15 to send the Winter Garden into a frenzy on his perfect leg.

After backing up with a 14-darter, it looked like Littler was going to find perfection again in the fourth leg but was denied when his ninth dart went wide at D15, Aspinall jokingly offered his darts to the spectators to try against such a ridiculous standard.

Despite Littler’s opposition in the opening session and a 117 average, Aspinall showed courage to hold on to his throw and take just one step back at the break.

Indeed, Aspinall continued to play incredible darts as well and ensured that the second session went by throws, leading ‘The Nuke’ to just 6-4 at the second break.

It looked like Littler was holding off a struggling Aspinall when he got three feet on the bounce, with two breaks on the throw, to go up 10-7.

But in typical Aspinall fashion, he reeled in ‘Big Fish’ to hit back under the most intense pressure to go 10-8.

Although ‘The ASP’ came up with that moment of brilliance, Littler was undaunted and took 52 at the top to end an impressive battle at Blackpool in the 19th and final leg.

‘The best game me and nathan ever played’

“It felt amazing. Probably the best game me and Nathan have played against each other,” Littler said Sky Sports.

“I just looked at the averages there, 113 for me, 101 for Nathan.

“Six trebleless visits in 21 legs shows how well I have played.

“Nathan gave it his all, and when I missed D5 I knew 170 was going! But I’m glad to win. He never gives up.

“The nine-darter just happened, these guys were booing me at the start and then they started cheering me on!

“It’s two incredible performances from me here. I just have to focus.

“You can never hand the trophy to someone after one round or two. I wanted Luke Humphries to win and we meet in another final.”

Littler will face Josh Rock In the quarters he came through a tough 11-6 against Stephen Bunting where neither player hit their usual heights.

Both averaged in the 70s in the opening session, with Rock visibly disappointed in his display but fighting hard to clear four legs on the bounce to take a 7-4 lead.

Finally, he capped the contest with a thrilling 140 checkout to book a rematch with Littler, who defeated him in a sensational 17-14 semi-final at this venue in 2015.

MVG lost in a thrilling clash as Ando continued his strong run

Fourth seed Michael van Gerwen was eliminated from world matchplay with a 14-12 tie-break loss to fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duyvenbode that temporarily dropped him to world No. 6.

Van Gerwen came into the matchplay defending £100,000 and with the defeat, he lost his world No. 4 ranking.

It was a drama-filled match and after a tense start, Van Duyvenbode took the first chances to go ahead and after a solid 125 checkout, she broke throw to go 4-3 before adding a second break to go 8-4 up.

Despite clearly struggling with a shoulder problem, van Gerwen managed to rally. That saw him fire a triple bullseye finish followed by a key break of throw to tie the match at 10-10 on the line.

Needing a two-leg advantage to declare a winner, the tie-break began and Van Duyvenbode once again came out on top, this time breaking the throw with six perfect darts for an 11-dart leg to put him ahead 13–12.

The match was then in his hands and finally, on his seventh match dart and after Van Gerwen missed his own chance, Van Duyvenbode pinned D8 and made a roar after defeating his Dutch compatriot.

He will face Gary Anderson After advancing to the quarters with an 11-7 win over 2018 matchplay champion Welshman Jonny Clayton.

It marks the ‘Flying Scotsmen’s first appearance in the quarter-finals at this event in six years but, early on, it didn’t look like it was going to happen.

After the first session, Anderson was 4-1 after some great finishes of 105 and 121 checkouts from Clayton.

However, Anderson then gave up five legs in a row to take the lead before a crucial break of the 15th leg throw gave him a 9-6 lead.

From there, Anderson held his throws with some ease and made it to the last eight at D8.

What’s happening in World Matchplay on Wednesday?

Round two action continues on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, with four more big matches coming your way.

Cameron Menzies will be looking to back up a huge win over world No.2 Luke Humphries when he takes on Ross Smith.

Gerwyn Price then takes on fellow former world champion Rob Cross.

World No. 3 Gian van Veen faces a showdown against the Dutchman and in-form Wessel Nijmann, while James Wade takes on Ryan Searle.

Who will win this year’s World Matchplay Darts? Luke Littler will defend his title and you can watch all the action on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more great games now.