Luke Littler hammers Ryan Searle at World Matchplay
Littler, the second seed at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, looked like a man in a hurry as he raced into a 6-0 lead.
And, although Searle was able to get on the board late on, there was never going to be any way back against Littler, who averaged nearly 109.
Darting demolition job from Luke Littler! ☢️
What a way to celebrate your first win at the Betfred World Matchplay!
The World Champion averages 108.92 to demolish Ryan Searle in brutal fashion! #MatchplayDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/6ttg4jhHwA
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 20, 2025
'I was well up for tonight,' Littler said on Sky Sports. 'I wanted that win, to get that winning feeling and I've done it in some standard.'
After revealing earlier this week he had failed his driving theory test for a fourth time, Littler said he has not been doing his homework for that as he has been keeping his focus on his game, adding: 'I've got a competition to focus on.'
He said: 'I've been practising so much. Obviously I've not put much on social media, but I've been at home putting the hours in, hours and hours, and I'm glad it's paid off tonight.'
World number four Stephen Bunting survived a dogfight with Ryan Joyce to advance with a 10-8 victory.
The moment Stephen Bunting sealed victory over Ryan Joyce… #WorldMatchplay | @sbunting180 pic.twitter.com/eO5LisyHo0
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 20, 2025
Joyce came from 8-4 down to level the contest at 8-8 when Bunting appeared to be distracted while looking to close out from 45, and was then a whisker away from going 9-8 up as he narrowly missed double five.
Bunting responded with a 180 and then checked out from 41 to secure his progress, but could not hide his frustration.
'I'm so disappointed,' he said. 'We had a battle last year. Thankfully I've not gone the distance this year and I've saved a bit of energy for the next round. We go on, we're in the next round.'
Clayton wins a cracker! 🏴
2023 runner-up Jonny Clayton defies a 103 average from Martin Schindler to win through a terrific first round tie at the Empress Ballroom! #MatchplayDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/122qo4SHKX
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 20, 2025
Fifth seed Jonny Clayton survived a tough contest against Martin Schindler to prevail 10-7, despite the German putting up better numbers for much of the contest.
Clayton's average was 99.60 compared to Schindler's 103.45 but the Welshman picked his moments to advance.
'I am here, I want to win this tournament,' Clayton said. 'Hopefully it is going to be my week. I love it when I pass the first round.'
CLAYTON WINS A THRILLER!
Jonny Clayton has won a thriller here in Blackpool!
The Ferret beats Martin Schindler 10-7 to book his place in the second round against Mike De Decker!
📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji #MatchplayDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/TBfCXoBYfs
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 20, 2025
Earlier 13th seed Gary Anderson saw off Luke Woodhouse 10-5 despite a spectacular 167 checkout from the Englishman.
Four seeds were sent home during Sunday's afternoon session as further shocks followed Saturday's exits of top seed Luke Humphries and eighth seed Nathan Aspinall.
Seventh seed Damon Heta fell to Andrew Gilding in a contest that went to overtime, with Gilding eventually prevailing 12-10 after a late fightback came to nothing for Heta.
Gilding advances to face Dirk van Duijvenbode, who saw off 10th seed Rob Cross 10-8 after rallying from 6-2 down in a remarkable contest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Barcelona boss explains why Marcus Rashford was given 'biggest humiliation' on debut
Marcus Rashford has joined his new Barcelona team-mates on their pre-season tour of Asia and the Manchester United loanee made his first appearance against Japanese side Vissel Kobe They say it is the biggest humiliation a footballer can experience: being a substitute that, after getting on the pitch, is then subbed off. So why did Hansi Flick bring on Marcus Rashford for 30 minutes on his Barcelona debut - and then take him off again? Rashford, 27, appeared for the first since completing his season-long loan move from Manchester United in midweek, ending his exile at Old Trafford. The forward's transfer - which includes a £26million option to buy - was finalised in time for him to fly to Japan with the rest of Barca's squad, as they embark on a pre-season tour of Asia. First up was a clash with Japanese side Vissel Kobe in a friendly match which was initially suspended before organisers scrambled to make it happen. Rashford was named on the bench by Flick before the German changed his entire line-up at half-time. The United loanee showed promise during his 30-minute cameo, notably playing a crucial role when fellow new signing Roony Bardghji got on the scoresheet in Barcelona's 3-1 win. After defender Jofre Torrents won back possession on the left, Rashford collected the ball and played a perfectly-weighted pass through to Robert Lewandowski. Barca's No.9 then picked out Bardghji on the right, as the former Copenhagen hotshot produced an impressive first-time finish. Seconds later, Rashford was brought off. The England international and Torrents were replaced by Gerard Martin and Pedro Fernandez, scorer of Barcelona's third goal, in the 77th minute. Post-match, Flick was asked about his decision to haul both Rashford and Torrents off after half an hour each. "Rashford hasn't played that much, and we also wanted to give Gerard Martin 15 minutes because he was playing after his injury," the Barcelona manager explained. Which, obviously, makes perfect sense for a player who, just seven days ago, was a member of Manchester United's 'bomb squad' training alone and made to use the club's Carrington training ground when the first-team squad had gone home. For Flick, these early days are about getting Rashford up to speed, slowly but surely, helping him adjust to what he wants. Do it correctly, and it's another match winner among Barca's collection of stars. Subbing him on and then off in a pre-season friendly? Not a problem for the manager nor his new player. Flick was a 'key' reason why Rashford joined the La Liga champions, having led Barcelona to three trophies in his first season. "He was another key factor for me to join Barca," the 27-year-old revealed during his unveiling. "The conversations I had with him were very positive. He has proven to be one of the top coaches... He led a young team to such a successful season and has returned to the preseason wanting more." Rashford's team-mates are already looking forward to playing alongside him. "Rashford is a very talented player," Lewandowski told reporters in Japan. "We played Manchester United two years ago and he was in great form. He can help us and is able to play in different positions." Next up for Barca is a friendly against Seoul in the South Korean capital on Thursday. Rashford will have a reunion with ex-United team-mate Jesse Lingard, who captains the K-League giants.
Daily Mirror
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
'Ich liebe Deutschland!' Oisin Murphy celebrates biggest win since drink-drive conviction
The four-time champion jockey surprised his hosts by giving answers in German after Group 1 success in Munich on Godolphin's Tornado Alert Oisin Murphy caught his hosts by surprise when he recorded his first Group 1 victory since he was convicted of drink-driving on Sunday. Earlier in July the four-time champion jockey was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months earlier in July after being almost twice over the legal alcohol limit in a breath test taken nearly seven hours after his arrest.. The 29-year-old pleaded guilty at Reading magistrates court to driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol after the car he was driving left the road and crashed into a tree, injuring a female passenger, in April. The conviction led to the BHA imposing stricter conditions on his licence which already included a stipulation to 'remain sober' after he completed a 14-month ban for breaking Covid rules and for two alcohol breaches in 2022. The four-time champion, who had finished second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, travelled to Germany on Sunday where he steered the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Tornado Alert to victory in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich. The Godolphin three-year-old kicked away from Map Of Stars to score by two and a half lengths, giving Murphy only his second top level success of 2025. Murphy had not registered a Group 1 triumph since landing the Lockinge Stakes on Lead Artist in May. In the post race interview, he gave his initial answers in German, saying: 'It's incredible, he's a fantastic horse and I love the atmosphere here.' He then added: 'Ich liebe Deutschland.' It's not the first time he has displayed his linguistic skills. He also learned Japanese when he rode in the country. He then said: 'It's fantastic to win on Tornado Alert. We were uncertain he would like the ground but he loved it. He ran very well in the Epsom Derby. He was second at Ascot and today he came to Munich and he was brilliant.' Bin Suroor said: 'He won well, the ground was heavy and he's never run before on this ground, but he handled it well.' 'I said to Oisin before the race 'just keep him happy and give him a chance', but he was travelling good all the way and when he came off the bridle he saw it out well.' Tornado Alert holds big-race entries in the Juddmonte International at York and the Celebration Mile at Goodwood next month, but Bin Suroor is in no rush to firm up future plans, adding: 'We'll see how he comes back after the race and then we'll make a decision. He has plenty of speed, but I think a mile and a quarter is his best trip at the moment.'
North Wales Chronicle
14 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Lottie Woad fires final-round 68 to claim victory on her professional debut
The 21-year-old former world number one amateur from Surrey finished with a final round score of 68 after four days of competition at Dundonald Links. It was Woad's first victory since turning professional earlier in July. She entered the final round with a two-stroke lead and made birdies on the second, third, 13th and 14th before hitting a bogey on the 16th. Lottie Woad wins the @Womens_Scottish on her professional debut 🏆#WSO25 — Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) July 27, 2025 Woad made par on the 17th before a pinpoint approach set up a birdie on the 18th to wrap up the title. She becomes the first player to win on their professional Ladies European Tour debut since Singapore's Shannon Tan at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in February 2024. Woad said on Sky Sports: 'It's a pretty good outcome, I guess! Definitely wasn't expecting to win my first event, but I knew I was playing well so I was kind of hoping to contend. 'I played really solid today. It was pretty nice in the end, could lay up on the par five. 'Links golf is really fun, don't get to play it too often. This is my first time playing links golf since the Open last year. I wasn't exactly sure how it would go, but it went fine!' Woad finished three shots ahead of second-placed Kim Hyo-joo, who fired seven birdies and three bogeys in a mixed fourth round. Julia Lopez Ramirez and Kim Sei-young shared third on 14 under, with world number one Nelly Korda a shot back in fifth. English duo Alice Hewson and Charley Hull finished tied for 10th and 21st, respectively. Attention now turns to the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl, which begins on Thursday. Looking ahead to that tournament, Woad added: 'Even if I hadn't won this week, I'd still be trying to win it and just trying to be up there really is all you can ask for going into the final day.'
