Latest news with #JermaineWattimena
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Luke Littler explains gesture during emotional celebration following comeback win at World Matchplay Darts
LUKE LITTLER explained his celebratory gesture after his comeback win at the World Matchplay Darts. The Nuke battled back from 7-2 down to beat Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a thrilling tiebreaker last night. Advertisement 3 Luke Littler came from behind to beat Jermaine Wattimena Credit: @LukeTheNuke180 3 Littler pointed to a badge stitched onto his shirt Credit: @LukeTheNuke180 3 Littler is now into the quarter-final Credit: Rex But the 18-year-old finally brought his unstoppable best to the oche when needed and he Littler shouted "come on" when securing his spot in the quarter-final with passion and relief etched on his face. He then pointed to the bottom of his shirt and flexed it towards fans. Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS Littler has a badge stitched on there that features his name, the Asked about the meaning behind the gesture, Littler revealed: "When I won I pointed to the star on my shirt. "I'm a world champion for a reason. I find these gears when I need it." Littler added: "I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the World Championship against Ryan Meikle. Advertisement Most read in Darts BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'Jermaine kept putting me under pressure. He was always right behind me, but when I got into the lead I was determined not to let it slip away.' Littler faces Luke Littler reveals gruelling new training regime that saw him almost break darts record On the other side of the draw, it is Gian van Veen vs James Wade and Stephen Bunting vs Jonny Clayton tonight. Advertisement
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Luke Littler explains gesture during emotional celebration following comeback win at World Matchplay Darts
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE LITTLER explained his celebratory gesture after his comeback win at the World Matchplay Darts. The Nuke battled back from 7-2 down to beat Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a thrilling tiebreaker last night. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Luke Littler came from behind to beat Jermaine Wattimena Credit: @LukeTheNuke180 3 Littler pointed to a badge stitched onto his shirt Credit: @LukeTheNuke180 3 Littler is now into the quarter-final Credit: Rex Littler was having a nightmare in the opening stages, missing ten throws at the double and he was on the brink of a second round exit. But the 18-year-old finally brought his unstoppable best to the oche when needed and he celebrated wildly after landing his fifth match dart. Littler shouted "come on" when securing his spot in the quarter-final with passion and relief etched on his face. He then pointed to the bottom of his shirt and flexed it towards fans. READ MORE IN DARTS DOUBLE TROUBLE Darts ace Daryl Gurney 'held back by security' in huge row with Gerwyn Price Littler has a badge stitched on there that features his name, the England flag and a single star for the one world title he has won. Asked about the meaning behind the gesture, Littler revealed: "When I won I pointed to the star on my shirt. "I'm a world champion for a reason. I find these gears when I need it." Littler added: "I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the World Championship against Ryan Meikle. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'Jermaine kept putting me under pressure. He was always right behind me, but when I got into the lead I was determined not to let it slip away.' Littler faces Andrew Gilding in the quarter-final on Friday and the winner will play either Josh Rock or Gerwyn Price. Luke Littler reveals gruelling new training regime that saw him almost break darts record On the other side of the draw, it is Gian van Veen vs James Wade and Stephen Bunting vs Jonny Clayton tonight.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Luke Littler explains gesture during emotional celebration following comeback win at World Matchplay Darts
LUKE LITTLER explained his celebratory gesture after his comeback win at the World Matchplay Darts. The Nuke battled back from 7-2 down to beat Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a thrilling tiebreaker last night. 3 3 3 Littler was having a nightmare in the opening stages, missing ten throws at the double and he was on the brink of a second round exit. But the 18-year-old finally brought his unstoppable best to the oche when needed and he celebrated wildly after landing his fifth match dart. Littler shouted "come on" when securing his spot in the quarter-final with passion and relief etched on his face. He then pointed to the bottom of his shirt and flexed it towards fans. Littler has a badge stitched on there that features his name, the England flag and a single star for the one world title he has won. Asked about the meaning behind the gesture, Littler revealed: "When I won I pointed to the star on my shirt. "I'm a world champion for a reason. I find these gears when I need it." World Championship against Ryan Meikle. 'Jermaine kept putting me under pressure. He was always right behind me, but when I got into the lead I was determined not to let it slip away.' Littler faces Andrew Gilding in the quarter-final on Friday and the winner will play either Josh Rock or Gerwyn Price. On the other side of the draw, it is Gian van Veen vs James Wade and Stephen Bunting vs Jonny Clayton tonight.
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Luke Littler completes stirring comeback to beat Jermaine Wattimena as Michael van Gerwyn knocked out
Luke Littler dug himself out of a massive hole to stay alive in the World Matchplay with a tense 13-11 win over Jermaine Wattimena. Littler fell 4-0 and 7-2 behind but charged back into an 8-7 lead, the match then going to a tiebreaker before the teenager made it into the quarter-finals. Littler looked in ominous form with his crushing 10-2 win over Ryan Searle on Sunday but the tables were turned early on here. Wattimena meant business and stormed into a 4-0 lead that left heads spinning in the Winter Gardens. Littler took the next two but it was only a temporary reprieve as Wattimena rediscovered his rhythm, making it 7-2 with back-to-back 180s part of an 11-darter. When Littler pulled back the next leg he gestured to the crowd, pointing to the world champion's star on his shirt as he indicated he was not ready to go home yet. And he then set about showing it as he won six legs on the spin, the pressure clearly getting to Wattimena as his earlier poise vanished. The Dutchman recovered to level at 8-8, then punished a Littler miss for 9-9 as the contest went the distance. As it went to extra legs both players were missing their throws before Littler got the D10 he needed to end the fight. 'When I pointed to the star on my shirt, I'm a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it,' Littler said on Sky Sports. 'I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the world championship. I was a bit nervous and it's on to my third game here, I've won two of them. 'I want to get back on stage and right now I can't wait to be in the quarter-final.' Earlier Gerwyn Price stormed through with an 11-3 rout of Chris Dobey. Price left Dobey with little chance, averaging 108.73 and hitting eight 180s in a performance highlighted by a 146 finish that put him 3-0 up. 'It was fantastic,' the Welshman said. 'The middle part of the game I felt like I couldn't miss. I put Chris under a lot of pressure. I think he still played decent in patches. 'I think early on we were both flying and I was just pipping him on a couple of legs, probably disheartened him a little bit. It's a good game for me.' Former UK champion Andrew Gilding made it through to the last eight with an 11-5 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode. In the final match, Josh Rock dumped out Michael van Gerwen 13-11 following a dramatic finale. Van Gerwen looked to on course to edge through when he moved into a 9-6 lead before Rock hit back to take four consecutive legs to lead, then keeping the Dutchman at arm's to reach the quarter-finals. Speaking to Sky Sports, Rock said: 'I don't know what was going on but I got into the game at the end. ' One of the most dramatic, my heart was pumping through the whole game. The stress has finally gone. What a game that was.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
All at sea and then Littler roars back in epic Blackpool battle
AND that's why Luke Littler is world champion… When the going gets tough, the tough get going – and he had to turn a titanic tide beside the seaside to keep his World Matchplay dream alive. 'The Nuke' unpacked his bucket and spade to dig himself out of a massive hole to achieve a tense 13-11 win over Jermaine Wattimena in the second round in Blackpool. Relief for Luke Littler and Jermaine Wattimena at the end of an epic tussle on stage in the Empress Ballroom at Winter Gardens in Blackpool (Image: Taylor Lanning) Littler, who will go on to face former UK champion Andrew Gilding in Friday night's quarter-finals, looked all at sea as he fell 4-0 and 7-2 behind but charged back into an 8-7 lead, the match then going to a tiebreaker before the Warrington 18-year-old made it into the last eight. The tournament favourite was in ominous form with his crushing 10-2 win over Ryan Searle on Sunday and appeared super confident as he milked the crowd during his walk-on for the clash with the Dutchman but when things didn't go to plan in the first leg the tables were turned. (Image: Taylor Lanning) Littler bust 127, missed the double again on his next visit, then three attempts at the outer ring allowed Wattimena to snatch an unlikely first-leg lead against the throw. From there, 'The Nuke' couldn't find his flow and Wattimena meant business as he stormed into a 4-0 lead that left heads spinning in the Winter Gardens. Littler took the next two but it was only a temporary reprieve as Wattimena rediscovered his rhythm, making it 7-2 with back-to-back 180s part of an 11-darter. Luke Littler getting frustrated on stage in Blackpool (Image: Taylor Lanning) When Littler pulled back the next leg he gestured to the crowd, pointing to the world champion's star on his shirt as he indicated he was not ready to go home yet. And he then set about showing it as he won six legs on the spin, checking out on 120 to hit the front with the pressure clearly getting to Wattimena as his earlier poise vanished. The Dutchman recovered to level at 8-8, then punished a Littler miss for 9-9 as the contest went the distance. Luke Littler in the midst of a titanic battle (Image: Taylor Lanning) As it went to extra legs both players were missing their throws before Littler got the D10 he needed to end the fight. 'When I pointed to the star on my shirt, I'm a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it,' Littler said on Sky Sports. 'I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the world championship. I was a bit nervous and it's on to my third game here, I've won two of them. 'I want to get back on stage and right now I can't wait to be in the quarter-final.' His next opponent Gilding made it through to the last eight with an 11-5 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
