Luke Littler hammers Ryan Searle on World Matchplay debut
Littler, the second seed on his first appearance at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, looked like a man in a hurry as he jumped out to 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.
'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.'
'I've been practising so much,' he said. '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.'
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.'
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.
Jermaine Wattimena beat 15th seed Peter Wright 10-8 while Mike De Decker beat 12th seed Dave Chisnall 10-7.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ben Stokes enjoying ‘high quality' games between England and India despite draw
Ben Stokes praised a showing of 'high-quality cricket' between England and India as the fourth Test ended in a draw. England reached 669 in their first innings before the game fizzled out, with India closing the day on 425 for four. KL Rahul fell for 90 before Jofra Archer then dismissed Shubman Gill for 103 and Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar both scored tons. Stokes hailed the quality of the Test, telling Sky Sports: 'I thought Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett's opening partnership was incredibly crucial in the way we could sort of lay the foundations for the game. 'The opening partnership, the way they took the Indian attack on, the rate they were managing to score at it sort of allowed us to go, 'right we're going to try and bat once' and look to hopefully bowl India out. 'It started great yesterday with two wickets in the first over, but it was one of those wickets where if you got in, you felt like you were going to be the one to make the mistake to get out. 'It's been a back-and-forth series so far, we've been throwing punches and India have been throwing punches back at us, it's just been real high-quality cricket – two very good teams. 'Got to give credit to the way India came out here and performed under the pressure they were.' With the game destined for a draw, the final stages of the match saw India's batters electing against shaking hands with 15 overs left. Jadeja and Sundar scored hundreds before shaking hands and Stokes revealed he offered to shake with the aim of protecting his bowling attack. 'I think all the hard work was done by India, they both played incredibly well,' Stokes added. 'It got to that point where there was obviously only one result and there was no chance I was going to risk any of my big, fast bowlers for injuries with one more game to go. '(Liam Dawson) has bowled so many overs this game, his body started to get a little bit tired and cramp up in the legs. 'I wasn't risking any of my frontline bowlers for that last half-an-hour.' Stokes appeared to be troubled by his left leg and a problem in his right shoulder, and admitted he was 'pretty sore'. 'It's been a big five or six weeks,' he said. 'I'll always try and give everything that I possibly can. Try and run through a brick wall. 'I ask the guys up there to run through a brick wall for the team. I'll always try and do the same to try and lead by example in that sense. ' Bowling, being out in the field all that kind of stuff it is tough work, but pretty sore.' When asked specifically about his shoulder, he added: 'It's just a workload thing, got through a fair few amount of overs and just everything starts creeping up on you. 'I'll keep trying, keep going. As I always say to all the bowlers, pain is only an emotion.'
Telegraph
14 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Watch: Protesters dragged away after confronting transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Women's sport campaigners were forcibly thrown out of the World Matchplay Darts for protesting against transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Jean Hatchet says she was left with 'bruises and scratches' from her 'very violent' removal for holding up a 'he's a man' banner at the women's event in Blackpool. The demonstration took place as Van Leuven, the first openly transgender woman in the sport, trounced Lorraine Winstanley in a best-of-seven-legs fixture. Van Leuven was halted in the next round, however, by Fallon Sherrock, losing 5-4. Hatchet, a writer who was wearing a 'Sex Matters' T-shirt at the event, posted footage of security guards manhandling protesters out of the venue. She posted on social media that it had been a 'horrific display of brute force against women who didn't even get a chance to say 'he's a man' before being dragged out'. She was among at least three protesters thrown out. Another wore a 'Save Women's Sport' T-shirt. Glad the man Noa-Lynn Van Loeven is OUT of the women's darts. @OfficialPDC now you can answer why women were treated like THIS — Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) July 27, 2025 While many sports have toughened rules against male-born athletes in women's competitions in recent years, transgender players are generally allowed to compete in line with the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA)'s inclusive policy. Despite the protests, PDC Darts posted favourable messages about Van Leuven's involvement, describing the first-round victory 'as a dominant display to break new ground in Blackpool'. Van Leuven gets off the mark in Blackpool...! 📺 #WomensMatchplay — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025 Van Leuven took a step back from the sport at the beginning of this year citing mental-health reasons after facing intense scrutiny last year. Ahead of the Blackpool tournament, the Dutch player said: 'I love this game too much and why would I let anyone else ruin my passion for darts? 'I just want to play darts. It feels amazing to be back. It's such an iconic place to play at. Last year I just lacked a bit of confidence, I guess. I've been gaining a lot of stage experience now, so hopefully I can bring my A game to the stage this time.' The Professional Darts Corporation has been approached for a response.
The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Padraig Harrington seals another major after storming to ISPS HANDA Senior Open Championship glory
PADRAIG HARRINGTON stormed to a sensational Senior Open victory on Sunday - landing his second senior major title of the season in style. The three-time major champ took a two-shot lead into the final round at Sunningdale, and never looked back as he closed out a dominant wire-to-wire win. 2 2 He got off to a flyer with a stunning eagle at the first, before picking up birdies at six and nine to keep the momentum going. The Dubliner's only blemish on the front nine came at the eighth, where he dropped a shot with a bogey. But the Stackstown golf legend hit back in style to see out his second senior major title of the year after his win at the US Open in Colorado last month. He then carded another birdie at the 14th to stretch his lead to three shots over Justin Leonard, holding firm as the pressure mounted from the American. And the 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee then held his nerve as after a bogey on 17, prior to finding a tough lie in the bunker on his approach. But the chasing Leonard couldn't make a par putt as Harrington maintained the three-shot lead heading up the last with caddie Ronan Flood. 53-year-old Harrington negotiated the last with a par to finish on -3 for his final round for a sixteen under par total as he lapped up the applause from a huge crowd in Berkshire. He finished three-strokes ahead of Thomas Bjorn and Justin Leonard, who signed-off for a total of -13 at Sunningdale. It's was his third senior major after wins at the 2022 and 2025 US Open Championships. He joins Darren Clarke and Christy O'Connor Jr as the only men from the Emerald Isle to win the Senior Open Championship crown. There was an overall purse of $2.85m on offer- - and a first prize of $447,800 for Harrington.
