Luke Littler: World number one wins close encounter in Players Championship final to advance to quarterfinals | dart news

Luke Littler won a scrappy encounter against Ricardo Pietreczko to advance to the quarterfinals of the Players Championship Finals on Saturday night.

New World No. 1 Littler beat German star Pietreczko 10-6 in a back-and-forth battle, averaging 102.67 points to win every major in the sport.

Last year’s runner-up appeared in a difficult situation when he was locked at 5-5, but he put his foot on the gas, winning four of the next five games and, with the help of two bullseyes, a stunning 121 to take the win.

“Obviously I’m never happy when I’m losing. I went from being down 3-2 to going back to 5-all and having to keep going from there,” Littler said. ITV4.

“I knew there was no more time to rest. We stayed (on stage) until the end and managed to get the job done. We weren’t our best in doubles tonight, but we can practice again tomorrow afternoon.”

Littler, who will face the winner of the fight between Krzysztof Ratajski and Josh Rock on Sunday afternoon, added: “This is a race I didn’t win. Everyone knows that. I’m definitely chasing that tomorrow.”

Littler had previously hit a whopping 107 against Ross Smith (102 average, 157 checkout), winning 6-3 and advancing to the third round.

The teenager recorded four high checkouts of 180 and 121 to advance to the last 16 against Pietrecco.

The German took down ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Gary Anderson, who wasted five goals in the match, and gifted ‘Pikachu’ a 6-5 win thanks to a 116-point checkout.

Anderson, 54, battled illness to compete at Minehead and there were huge doubts about whether he would be able to return to his best ahead of this year’s World Championships at Alexandra Palace. “At this moment in my life I don’t have time to play darts. There are too many darts games to go down the ladder. It’s as simple as that.”

Are you Darryl?The 2018 champion survived 10 match darts from surprise challenger Adam Lipscombe to land 11 darts in the deciding leg to secure a stunning 10-9 victory and advance to the quarter-finals. Gerwin Price.

The No. 1 seed shattered a massive checkout of 161 and won six of the last seven legs to defeat German No. 1 Martin Schindler 10-6.

Price said he was preparing for a bruising showdown after a tense exchange with Gurney at the World Match Play in Blackpool last July.

“I’m ready for him,” the world number 10 said.

Gurney was joined by 2021 winner Peter Wright. james wade Early today.

The Scot, who picked up his first televised win since the World Masters in January against Joe Cullen in the first round, hit back at doubters as he looks to rediscover his best form in time for the World Championships.

“I love proving people wrong. A lot of people said I should give up. Maybe they’re right, but I’m not done here yet,” said Wright, a two-time world champion.

Nathan Aspinall Defeated Dutchman Danny Noppert 10-8, with both players hitting 180s for six.

walk across A 10-6 win over Andrew Gilding followed up his previous win over former world champion Peter Wright.

Dutch Jermaine Watimena He defeated Ryan Searle 10-8 to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time.

Tertiary results

main stage
Gerwin Price 10-6 Martin Schindler
Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Danny Noffert
Luke Littler 10-6 Ricardo Pietrecco
Krzysztof Ratajski v Josh Lock

Step 2
Darryl Gurney 10-9 Adam Lipscombe
James Wade 10-6 Andrew Gilding
Jermaine Wattimina 10-8 Ryan Sully
Chris Dovey 10-5 James Hurrell

Gian van Vinh, Who defeated defending champion Luke Humphreys in the opening roundtook a 5-3 lead and wasted two match darts before the Polish No. 1 suffered a dramatic 6-5 loss to Krzysztof Ratajski.

The new European champions are now shutting down all talk of a mouth-watering World Youth final against Beau Greaves on Sunday evening.

“I’m not even thinking about playing Bo,” he said.

Josh Rock finished off more than four tons of Scott Williams’ 6-0 demolition in just 10 minutes and averaged north of 107.

But it was ‘Shaggy’ who stole the show as he sang along to a K-Pop Demon Hunters song and carried a case of Star Wars darts during the walk.

secondary results

main stage
Darryl Gurney 6-4 Stephen Bunting
James Wade 6-4 Peter Wright
Nathan Aspinall 6-0 Richard Beenstra
Gerwin Price 6-1 Sebastian Bialesi
Luke Littler 6-3 Ross Smith
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Gian van Wien
Josh Rock 6-0 Scott Williams
Danny No Putt 6-1 Madars Razma

Step 2
James Hurrell 6-1 Luke Woodhouse
Adam Lipscomb 6-2 Bradley Brooks
Ryan Searle 6-5 Callan Rydz
Jermaine Wattimina 6-2 Ryan Joyce
Martin Schindler 6-4 Nick Kenny
Ricardo Pietrecko 6-5 Gary Anderson
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Justin Hood
Chris Dovey 6-5 Cam Crabtree

Whitlock deserves a place at Alexandra Palace.

Simon Whitlock is set to return to the Paddy Power World Darts Championship after winning the 2025 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Australian icon won the $30,000 prize after beating Raymond Smith 10-7 in the final at the Nissan Arena. But more important is his place at Alexandra Palace next month.

The former World Championship runner-up was full of emotion after the match, as he missed out on last year’s World Championships, ending his 15-year run of featuring in Ally Pally.

“It meant the world to me,” Whitlock recalled. “Now that I can get to the World Championships, I have a lifeline to do other things.

“I want to thank the crowd and all the families here tonight, they were amazing.

“It was a really tough one. Raymond was probably the best player this whole tournament, but thank God I pulled it off that night. I had to do it.

“Just getting back to the World Championships means a lot to me. It means the world will have the opportunity to be a World Champion again. I just want to cry, but I won’t cry.”

Sky Sports will once again be home to the Premier League, Darts World Cup, World Match Play, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championship! Stream the best sports including darts with NOW