Luke Littler faces Andrew Gilding in the World Matchplay quarter-finals on Friday, buoyed by his superb comeback victory over Jermaine Wattimena in the previous round.
When his favourite D10 clattered into the board for an epic 13-11 tie-break win over Wattimena, Littler had let out a roar and pointed at the star on his shirt. It was a reminder that he is “world champion for a reason”.
Littler added that star back in January when he beat Michael van Gerwen on the biggest stage of all at Alexandra Palace, cementing himself as the youngest world champion in history and continuing his ascendency.
Now, he is focused on joining the exclusive club of ‘Triple Crown’ winners that have won the Worlds, the Premier League, and the World Matchplay.
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Phil Taylor, Van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries have that win in Blackpool – and now Littler is three wins away from adding himself to that list after an electrifying comeback win in the second round to reach the quarter-finals.
Gilding, who calmly dispatched Dirk van Duijvenbode to reach the last eight, stands between Littler and the semi-finals.
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Luke Littler disappoints the Blackpool crowd after refusing to go for the big fish in attempt to leave an easier finish on his next visit
“The Nuke” knows that “Goldfinger” is not going to be an easy task, and he will have to be up for another tough game in Blackpool, especially with their differing styles.
“Yeah, certainly, certainly is going to be a challenge. Obviously, the pace isn’t there for myself,” Littler said.
“Like I did when I faced him at my first Worlds, you have just got to find some sort of routine that you can get into. I am sure it will be a good game.”
When he was 7-2 down to Wattimena, it looked like the Dutchman was about to produce the performance of his life to finally get a win against the teenager. Littler said ‘not so fast’.
“I can always find a way to come back,” the teenager said. “No one can write anyone off. It’s darts, anything can happen. We’ve seen some big shocks so far.”
After ‘The Nuke’ won six legs in a row and moved 8-7 in front of Wattimena, he held his nerve and went into the tie-break with the Winter Gardens crowd right on his side, holding his throw and then breaking Wattimena in the decisive moment to keep the dream alive.
For Littler, his celebration was a reminder that he is the best in the world “for a reason” and so can pull a fightback like that out of the bag.
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Luke Littler speaks to Sky Sports’ Polly James shortly after his thrilling tie-break victory over Jermaine Wattimena in the World Matchplay
It was also a relief with the 18-year-old admitting he had not felt pressure that intense since he faced Ryan Joyce at the worlds back in December, Littler surviving a scare for a 4-3 win in the opening round of the tournament he went onto claim glory at.
“I’m a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve not felt pressure like that since the World Championships.
“I was a bit nervous but the crowd was unbelievable and it’s on to my third game here and I’ve won two of them.
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Highlights of Luke Littler’s fourth round match with Ryan Joyce at the 2025 World Darts Championship
“I want to get back on stage and right now I can’t wait to be in the quarter-final.
“If I didn’t go 7-3 it would have been a lot harder. But yeah, to go 7-3 I just said to myself you have got to win at least the next two or three legs when you come back on,” he added.
“It was just saying to myself, saying to the fans, I am World Champion for a reason, we come back. And for myself, I always find these gears somewhere.
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Highlights of Luke Littler’s first round game against Ryan Searle in the World Matchplay
“Obviously for myself I’d rather be blasted off into the lead like I did against Ryan Searle, but it wasn’t to be and I pulled it out of the bag.
“Probably since the Ryan Joyce game, I have not let that much emotion out of me since then. But it’s just good for myself to show the emotion and show that I can always find a way to come back.”
Part: Littler knows who he is and has faith in it
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Luke Littler gives his reaction after an outstanding first round win at the World Matchplay
Sky Sports’ John Part on Luke Littler’s victory…
“The one thing was there were a number of legs between Jermaine Wattimena and the win when Luke Littler was at his furthest point down.
“He’s been around long enough, he knows he can reel off legs… He knows who he is and he has faith in that.
“He said there in the interview it was the second most nervous he’s ever felt. That’s quite a thing.
“The dreams of taking this title are still here.”
What’s next at the World Matchplay?
The World Matchplay continues on Friday with two more quarter-finals, live on Sky Sports+ and Main Event from 7.30pm.
Luke Littler takes on Andrew Gilding and Gerwyn Price faces Josh Rock to secure their spots in the semi-finals.
Watch the World Matchplay live on Sky Sports from July 19-27 or stream without a contract.