Luke Littler hits opening-leg nine-darter to reach World Matchplay quarter-finals
The world number one darts player delivered a historic opening-leg perfect score against Nathan Aspinall, reinforcing his dominance and the growing commercial appeal of the sport across Europe.
Luke Littler secured his place in the World Matchplay quarter-finals with an 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall in Blackpool on Tuesday. The world number one opened the match with a flawless nine-darter, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Littler recorded 14 maximum 180 scores during the contest. His finishing average of 113.68 stands as the second-highest ever recorded at the tournament, trailing only Phil Taylor’s 144.99 mark set in 2010.
He narrowly missed a second perfect leg in the fourth, falling just short on the double 15. Achieving two nine-darters in a single televised match remains a feat accomplished only by Taylor.
This level of sustained excellence reinforces Littler’s position as the central figure in professional darts. His dominance drives substantial viewership for broadcast partners like Sky Sports, underpinning the sport's expanding commercial footprint and media rights value across Europe.
Littler currently holds the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League, and Masters titles. He is also the defending champion at the Matchplay, Grand Slam, Grand Prix, and Players Championship Finals.
He is pursuing a consecutive World Matchplay title, which would make him the first player to achieve this in Blackpool since Michael van Gerwen in 2017. He will face Josh Rock in the next round as the tournament continues through July 26.
Despite the acclaim, Littler remains cautious about his historical standing. He stated that he will only be considered the greatest if he wins 16 World Championships, adding, "If I win 16 back-to-back World Championships, I am gone."
When asked about anticipating the perfect leg, Littler referenced a practice session earlier in the day against a dart bot. After missing the double 15 and receiving teasing from his sister’s boyfriend, he noted, "I was saving it till later. And I hit it."
Aspinall framed the defeat as a catalyst for future improvement. He praised Littler’s efficiency, noting that "six trebleless visits in 19 legs is the stat that jumps out to me," and called it the most enjoyable game of his career.
The World Matchplay resumes on Wednesday with high-stakes second-round fixtures. The broadcast schedule features Cameron Menzies against Ross Smith, Gerwyn Price versus Rob Cross, and a Dutch showdown between Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman.
