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Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
All at sea and then Littler roars back in epic Blackpool battle
AND that's why Luke Littler is world champion… When the going gets tough, the tough get going – and he had to turn a titanic tide beside the seaside to keep his World Matchplay dream alive. 'The Nuke' unpacked his bucket and spade to dig himself out of a massive hole to achieve a tense 13-11 win over Jermaine Wattimena in the second round in Blackpool. Relief for Luke Littler and Jermaine Wattimena at the end of an epic tussle on stage in the Empress Ballroom at Winter Gardens in Blackpool (Image: Taylor Lanning) Littler, who will go on to face former UK champion Andrew Gilding in Friday night's quarter-finals, looked all at sea as he fell 4-0 and 7-2 behind but charged back into an 8-7 lead, the match then going to a tiebreaker before the Warrington 18-year-old made it into the last eight. The tournament favourite was in ominous form with his crushing 10-2 win over Ryan Searle on Sunday and appeared super confident as he milked the crowd during his walk-on for the clash with the Dutchman but when things didn't go to plan in the first leg the tables were turned. (Image: Taylor Lanning) Littler bust 127, missed the double again on his next visit, then three attempts at the outer ring allowed Wattimena to snatch an unlikely first-leg lead against the throw. From there, 'The Nuke' couldn't find his flow and Wattimena meant business as he stormed into a 4-0 lead that left heads spinning in the Winter Gardens. Littler took the next two but it was only a temporary reprieve as Wattimena rediscovered his rhythm, making it 7-2 with back-to-back 180s part of an 11-darter. Luke Littler getting frustrated on stage in Blackpool (Image: Taylor Lanning) When Littler pulled back the next leg he gestured to the crowd, pointing to the world champion's star on his shirt as he indicated he was not ready to go home yet. And he then set about showing it as he won six legs on the spin, checking out on 120 to hit the front with the pressure clearly getting to Wattimena as his earlier poise vanished. The Dutchman recovered to level at 8-8, then punished a Littler miss for 9-9 as the contest went the distance. Luke Littler in the midst of a titanic battle (Image: Taylor Lanning) As it went to extra legs both players were missing their throws before Littler got the D10 he needed to end the fight. 'When I pointed to the star on my shirt, I'm a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it,' Littler said on Sky Sports. 'I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the world championship. I was a bit nervous and it's on to my third game here, I've won two of them. 'I want to get back on stage and right now I can't wait to be in the quarter-final.' His next opponent Gilding made it through to the last eight with an 11-5 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Littler wins Wattimena thriller but Van Gerwen goes out
Luke Littler survived a real scare before fighting back to beat Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a thriller to reach the World Matchplay quarter-finals in Blackpool, but three-time champion Michael van Gerwen is out after defeat to Josh champion Littler looked out of sorts at Winter Gardens as he slipped 4-0 and then 7-2 behind against Dutchman pulling one leg back immediately before the second break, a clearly fired up Littler let out a roar of delight and gestured to the crowd that he was not going home just returned from the break reinvigorated, winning six legs in a row, but Wattimena rediscovered his composure and the two players traded blows to send the game to a tie breakLittler missed two match darts as the nerves began to show, but after making the third he once again roared in celebration and pointed to the star on his shirt, which signifies his World Championship victory."When I pointed to the star on my shirt, I'm a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it," Littler told Sky Sports."I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the World Championship. I was a bit nervous and it's on to my third game here, I've won two of them."I want to get back on stage and right now I can't wait to be in the quarter-final."Van Gerwen made a flying start against Northern Ireland's Rock, taking the opening leg with a 150 checkout before surging into a 5-1 narrowed the game to 6-4 at the second break only for Van Gerwen to move into a 9-6 lead and seemingly on the brink of Rock fought back again and the momentum to swung in his favour when a superb 152 checkout cut Van Gerwen's lead down to one, before winning the next two legs to take the lead for the first Gerwen needed a 138 checkout to stay in the game and make it 10-10, but Rock held his nerve in a tense tie break."I kept my emotions, I think, throughout the game. I don't know what was going on but I got into the game at the end," he told Sky Sports."One of the most dramatic, my heart was pumping throughout the whole game. The stress has finally gone. What a game."Gerwyn Price stormed into the quarter-finals with an 11-3 thrashing of England's Chris Dobey,Welshman Price, who was involved in an angry confrontation with Daryl Gurney in the previous round, averaged 108.7, hit eight 180s and had a 146 checkout in a dominant performance."It was fantastic. In the middle part of the game I felt like I couldn't miss," he told Sky Sports. "I put Chris under a lot of pressure. I think he still played pretty decent in patches."I think early on we were both flying and I was just pipping him on a couple of legs, probably disheartened him a little bit. It's a good game for me."Andrew Gilding set up a meeting with Littler after the former UK Open champion beat Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode 11-5 to reach the last eight of the World Matchplay for the second successive year.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luke Littler requires stirring comeback to beat Jermaine Wattimena
Luke Littler dug himself out of a massive hole to stay alive in the World Matchplay with a tense 13-11 win over Jermaine Wattimena. Littler fell 4-0 and 7-2 behind but charged back into an 8-7 lead, the match then going to a tiebreaker before the teenager made it into the quarter-finals. Littler looked in ominous form with his crushing 10-2 win over Ryan Searle on Sunday but the tables were turned early on here. Wattimena meant business and stormed into a 4-0 lead that left heads spinning in the Winter Gardens. Littler took the next two but it was only a temporary reprieve as Wattimena rediscovered his rhythm, making it 7-2 with back-to-back 180s part of an 11-darter. When Littler pulled back the next leg he gestured to the crowd, pointing to the world champion's star on his shirt as he indicated he was not ready to go home yet. And he then set about showing it as he won six legs on the spin, the pressure clearly getting to Wattimena as his earlier poise vanished. The Dutchman recovered to level at 8-8, then punished a Littler miss for 9-9 as the contest went the distance. As it went to extra legs both players were missing their throws before Littler got the D10 he needed to end the fight. 'When I pointed to the star on my shirt, I'm a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it,' Littler said on Sky Sports. 'I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the world championship. I was a bit nervous and it's on to my third game here, I've won two of them. 'I want to get back on stage and right now I can't wait to be in the quarter-final.' Earlier Gerwyn Price stormed through with an 11-3 rout of Chris Dobey. Price left Dobey with little chance, averaging 108.73 and hitting eight 180s in a performance highlighted by a 146 finish that put him 3-0 up. 'It was fantastic,' the Welshman said. 'The middle part of the game I felt like I couldn't miss. I put Chris under a lot of pressure. I think he still played decent in patches. 'I think early on we were both flying and I was just pipping him on a couple of legs, probably disheartened him a little bit. It's a good game for me.' Former UK champion Andrew Gilding made it through to the last eight with an 11-5 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Luke Littler requires stirring comeback to beat Jermaine Wattimena
Luke Littler dug himself out of a massive hole to stay alive in the World Matchplay with a tense 13-11 win over Jermaine Wattimena. Littler fell 4-0 and 7-2 behind but charged back into an 8-7 lead, the match then going to a tiebreaker before the teenager made it into the quarter-finals. Littler looked in ominous form with his crushing 10-2 win over Ryan Searle on Sunday but the tables were turned early on here. Wattimena meant business and stormed into a 4-0 lead that left heads spinning in the Winter Gardens. Littler took the next two but it was only a temporary reprieve as Wattimena rediscovered his rhythm, making it 7-2 with back-to-back 180s part of an 11-darter. When Littler pulled back the next leg he gestured to the crowd, pointing to the world champion's star on his shirt as he indicated he was not ready to go home yet. And he then set about showing it as he won six legs on the spin, the pressure clearly getting to Wattimena as his earlier poise vanished. The Dutchman recovered to level at 8-8, then punished a Littler miss for 9-9 as the contest went the distance. As it went to extra legs both players were missing their throws before Littler got the D10 he needed to end the fight. 'When I pointed to the star on my shirt, I'm a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it,' Littler said on Sky Sports. 'I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the world championship. I was a bit nervous and it's on to my third game here, I've won two of them. 'I want to get back on stage and right now I can't wait to be in the quarter-final.' Earlier Gerwyn Price stormed through with an 11-3 rout of Chris Dobey. Price left Dobey with little chance, averaging 108.73 and hitting eight 180s in a performance highlighted by a 146 finish that put him 3-0 up. 'It was fantastic,' the Welshman said. 'The middle part of the game I felt like I couldn't miss. I put Chris under a lot of pressure. I think he still played decent in patches. 'I think early on we were both flying and I was just pipping him on a couple of legs, probably disheartened him a little bit. It's a good game for me.' Former UK champion Andrew Gilding made it through to the last eight with an 11-5 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sky Sports presenter can't keep straight face at darts star Andrew Gilding's excruciating answer to question on live TV
SKY SPORTS presenter Polly James could not keep a straight face after darts star Andrew Gilding gave a remarkable answer to a question live on TV. Gilding, 54, progressed past Dirk van Duijvenbode 11-5 to reach the World Matchplay of darts quarter-finals for just the second time in his career. 3 3 3 The English player was interviewed by Sky Sports on stage at Winter Gardens in Blackpool after his match. However, his answer to the presenter's first question left both James and darts pros stunned. Goldfinger said: "Thank you. I don't know what happened. "I've spent two days in the hotel room, getting stiff and come up here today feeling absolutely awful and somehow it happened." His answer left viewers stunned, with James revealing she was barely able to keep her composure in a social media post. She said: "People asking how I kept a straight face….. I bloody didn't." Stunned Glen Durrant - a three-time champion of Lakeside and winner of the Premier League in 2020 - posted: "What was that about Andrew Gilding / stiff / hotel room. I didn't quite catch it." Meanwhile, two-time Women's Series winner Gemma Hayter said: "Spent two days in the hotel room getting stiff. "Wonderfully worded Andrew Gilding," followed by a laughing emoji. Another fan who was taken aback said: "Andrew Gilding spent two days in the hotel doing WHAT?!" Continuing on his low-key prep for the tournament, Gilding added: "We went out for fish and chips but that's about it really..." Asked what about Blackpool brings out the best in him, he said: "All the Goldfinger scarves. I've got a lot more support over the years." On the support he was receiving from fans, the World No28 continued: "It's amazing. I can't believe it. Thump my chest for it." Gilding concluded by saying he would not be watching the nights remaining games to discover his opponent, admitting he doesn't care who he plays next. As it turns out, his next opponent will be reigning world champion Luke Littler. The World No2 survived a major scare from Jermaine Wattimena to come back from 4-0 down in his second round clash. Elsewhere, Gian van Veen is taking on James Wade and Stephen Bunting is facing Jonny Clayton. Gerwyn Price will face the winner of Michael van Gerwen 's clash with Josh Rock. List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
