Luke Littler hits stunning nine-dart finish in semi-final win over Josh Rock
The 18-year-old recovered from being 5-0 down in less than 10 minutes to close out a 17-4 win, which included a perfect nine-darter which he admits kick-started his comeback.
Twenty-nine 180s was the most in World Matchplay history as Littler, who had 15 of those, finished with a 107.5 average – Rock averaged 104.1 – and is one victory away from becoming only the fifth person to win the Triple Crown of World Championship, World Matchplay and Premier League.
9-DARTER 🚨
An unbelievable leg of darts from Luke Littler and Josh Rock 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vuLbGjKIev
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) July 26, 2025
'It was an incredible game. I wasn't happy at 5-0 down, it was a slow start but I picked myself up,' Little told Sky Sports.
'I wouldn't say Josh fell off but those first five legs from him were unbelievable. I just said to myself 'you can do it, you have been here before' – and I've done it again.
'As soon as I got into the lead, I just had to break and hold and get that two-leg advantage which I did and hold my own throw.'
On his nine-dart finish – in a leg where Rock had thrown successive 180s to set up a nine-darter himself – he added: 'It definitely sparked me into life. I didn't want to give it big because I was playing awful.'
His opponent in the final is James Wade, who admitted he 'hated every minute' of his epic 20-18 win over Jonny Clayton to reach his seventh final.
The 42-year-old Englishman, who last won this event 18 years ago, had been 7-2 and 16-10 up and needed just one leg for victory only for his opponent to win six in a row and force extra legs.
"I hated every minute of it" 😅
James Wade on his dramatic semi-final against Jonny Clayton pic.twitter.com/YIK94j4tUI
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) July 26, 2025
Clayton then missed two doubles to level at 19-19 and Wade staggered over the line.
'I'm done. I think Jonny just let me off at the last minute – but I let him off before that,' he told Sky Sports.
'I'm exhausted after that. I hoped the crowd here and everyone at home enjoyed themselves because I hated every minute of it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Ryan Johnson's own goal gifts Luton all three points in League One opener
Matt Bloomfield's side, who were playing in the Premier League 15 months ago, had produced barely a chance of note – against a team which at the same time were finishing 10th in the fourth tier – until the Dons defender inadvertently lifted the ball over Nathan Bishop from Nahki Wells' forward punt and in off the crossbar with five minutes left. It was the first time since 2019 Luton had played at this level and an immediate return to the Championship looked like being anything but straightforward as Johnnie Jackson's visitors, fresh from victory in the League Two play-off final, contained them with relative ease for much of the match. The opening 45 minutes saw the teams muster two shots on goal between them, both off target and one of which landed on the roof of the Oak Stand behind Wimbledon goalkeeper Bishop. Visiting defender Joe Lewis might have been lucky to escape harsher punishment when he halted a clear run on goal for Wells, receiving just a yellow card for tripping the Hatters debutant when seemingly the last man. Reuell Walters finally had Luton's first shot on target after 63 minutes, drawing an outstanding one-handed save from Bishop with a drilled half-volley from range. Wimbledon looked to have done enough to earn a point, but then came Johnson's unfortunate wayward header to gift the Hatters victory.
South Wales Argus
32 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Ryan Johnson's own goal gifts Luton all three points in League One opener
Matt Bloomfield's side, who were playing in the Premier League 15 months ago, had produced barely a chance of note – against a team which at the same time were finishing 10th in the fourth tier – until the Dons defender inadvertently lifted the ball over Nathan Bishop from Nahki Wells' forward punt and in off the crossbar with five minutes left. It was the first time since 2019 Luton had played at this level and an immediate return to the Championship looked like being anything but straightforward as Johnnie Jackson's visitors, fresh from victory in the League Two play-off final, contained them with relative ease for much of the match. The opening 45 minutes saw the teams muster two shots on goal between them, both off target and one of which landed on the roof of the Oak Stand behind Wimbledon goalkeeper Bishop. Visiting defender Joe Lewis might have been lucky to escape harsher punishment when he halted a clear run on goal for Wells, receiving just a yellow card for tripping the Hatters debutant when seemingly the last man. Reuell Walters finally had Luton's first shot on target after 63 minutes, drawing an outstanding one-handed save from Bishop with a drilled half-volley from range. Wimbledon looked to have done enough to earn a point, but then came Johnson's unfortunate wayward header to gift the Hatters victory.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
I'm four weeks away – Tom Lockyer reveals he is closing in on football return
Former Luton captain Tom Lockyer has revealed he is 'four weeks away' from being allowed to play football again. Lockyer has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023. The 30-year-old Wales defender had previously collapsed on the field just seven months earlier during the Hatters' Sky Bet Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Coventry. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sky Sports Football (@skysportsfootball) Lockyer, speaking ahead of Luton's opening Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kenilworth Road, told Sky Sports: 'I haven't had a break, I've been working all the way through, just trying to get this ankle right and trying to get fit. 'But I've had a really good few weeks and hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.' Luton, relegated in May for the second successive season, told Lockyer his contract would not be renewed when it expired this summer. But they have allowed him to use their facilities and work with their physios and medical staff during his rehabilitation. The former Bristol Rovers centre-back, who led Luton to Premier League promotion in 2023, added: 'They've been fantastic and have allowed me to come in and use the facilities and the knowledge of all the physios, so I can't thank them enough for that. 'It allows me to stay among the team spirit – there's a good one here. There's been a few changes, but they're trying to hold on to that ethos that no-one is bigger than the team and I absolutely love that. 'It's allowed me to go in every day, still be around it, still feel involved and I'm just itching to get back now.' Lockyer, who has had a defibrillator fitted similar to former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, snapped an ankle ligament during his return to full fitness, which required two operations.
