Littler’s Nine-Dart Brilliance Propels Him to World Matchplay Final
So here’s the latest from Blackpool that’s got the darts world buzzing—Luke Littler, just 18 years old, has done it again. He’s booked his place in the World Matchplay final after pulling off an absolutely jaw-dropping nine-darter in his 17–14 semi-final win over Josh Rock. Now, for anyone unfamiliar with darts, a nine-darter is the perfect leg—it’s the quickest way possible to check out from 501. It’s like the holy grail in darts, and Littler nailed it with calm precision, even while trailing.
What’s even crazier is how the match unfolded. Littler was actually down 6–1 at one stage. Rock came out of the gate blazing, throwing back-to-back 180s and dominating the early legs. But in the eighth leg, something special happened—both players started with two 180s, and while Rock was lining up for a potential nine-darter himself, Littler calmly stepped up and finished his with a 141 checkout on double 15. No wild celebration, just a shrug, like it was business as usual. But make no mistake—that moment flipped the match on its head.
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After that, Littler seemed to find another gear. From 8–4 down, he surged forward, winning seven of the next eight legs to take an 11–9 lead. Rock didn’t go quietly though—he hit back with stunning 170 and 120 checkouts to keep it tight, but Littler stayed composed and powered through with an incredible 107.5 average, edging Rock’s own impressive 104.15. And get this: the match featured 29 combined 180s, which is a new record for a World Matchplay game. That’s how high the level was.
Now Littler’s got his eyes on the final, where he’ll face James Wade—42 years old, a legend of the game, and no stranger to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. Wade earned his place after a grueling 20–18 win over Jonny Clayton in what turned out to be the longest semi-final in the tournament’s history. Wade was actually cruising at 16–10 before Clayton clawed back with six straight legs. It looked like it might slip away, but Wade held his nerve with a second 161 checkout and finally sealed it on double nine.
So here we are. Littler versus Wade, a rematch of the UK Open final from earlier this year, which Littler won convincingly. But this one feels bigger. If Littler wins, he’ll complete the prestigious Triple Crown—adding the Matchplay title to his World Championship and Premier League trophies—all within about 13 months. It’s an incredible rise for someone who was still in school not long ago.
Whether you’re a darts fan or just love a good sporting story, Littler’s journey is something special. And Sunday’s final? It’s set up to be an all-timer.
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