LUKE LITTLER completed one of his finest EVER comebacks to book his place in the World Matchplay Darts quarter-finals.
The teen sensation came back from 7-2 behind to shoot down Jermaine ‘Machine Gun’ Wattimena 13-11 in a tie-break classic.
GettyLittler stunned the Blackpool crowd to beat Wattimena[/caption]
Sky SPortsThe pair embrace at the end of the thriller[/caption]
Littler, 18, looked bang in trouble but then delivered an unplayable five minutes which propelled him to his first-ever quarters in the Winter Gardens.
It went all the way to a nail-biting tie-break and Littler said: “It just didn’t go to plan. I bust the 127 then I missed my doubles.
“I was always three or four legs behind. But after the second break I say to myself ‘I’m on the stage until the end, just work hard’.
“When I won I pointed to the star on my shirt, I’m a world champion for a reason. I find these gears when I need it.
“I’ll be honest I’ve not felt pressure like that since the first round of the World Championship against Ryan Meikle. But nervous but the crowd here unbelievable.”
Littler made an awful start, averaging just 80 early on as he lost the opening FOUR legs. In contrast Wattimena was averaging 104.
But The Nuke finally got his first leg on the board with a stunning 100 finish and two double tops.
Littler then halved the deficit with double four but Wattimena then extended his lead to 7-2 to leave the teen sensation on the ropes. At this point Littler had missed TEN efforts on doubles.
World Matchplay Darts 2025
BLACKPOOL will be the home of darts for the next week as the World Matchplay returns!
There has already been huge drama in round one of the tournament with SIX of the 16 seeded players out.
A new champions is now also guaranteed after Luke Humphries crashed out in his tournament opener against Gian van Veen.
There will be darts action every night this week ahead of the big final on Sunday!
LIVE – Follow all the action from the World Matchplay 2025
INFO
Full schedule and results
Prize money
LATEST NEWS
Daryl Gurney ‘held back by security’ after furious backstage row with Gerwyn Price
Gary Anderson blasts ‘boring’ new generation of players
Luke Littler narrowly misses out on stunning record
Luke Littler reveals new look in World Matchplay opener
Peter Wright unveils incredible weight loss and new look
Humphries furious with fans after shock defeat to Van Veen
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
The Nuke then hit a vital double 16 to narrow the gap before the second break. He gestured to the fans: “I’m still here”.
A clinical 107, 70, tops and double 10 followed for Littler to make it 8-7 and he let out a huge scream.
But Wattimena wasn’t finished and he showed great spirit to stay with Littler to make it 9-9.
The Nuke then missed one match dart before going to a tie-break. He then blew three more chances to win it but finally wrapped it up with double 10.
Gerwyn Price romped into the quarters with a stunning 11-3 win over Chris Dobey.
It was all one-way traffic and no dramas for the Welshman after his stage aggro with Daryl Gurney earlier in the week.
SKY SPORTSLittler and Wattimena enjoy a classy moment together after their epic clash[/caption]
Price said: “I think I’m played well in the middle part of the game.
“The crowd were behind me which I didn’t expect today after Monday.
“It was fantastic, the middle part of the game I felt I couldn’t miss. I put Chris under a lot of pressure. I think he played decent in patches.
“I want to let my emotions go sometimes. It was a tough game.”
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
