Luke Littler has survived a nerve-testing battle with Nathan Aspinall to keep his bid for a clean sweep of all three major darts titles alive in one year.
The 2024 champion won 10-9 in a see-saw contest that went down to the last leg, edging out Aspinall in the World Series of Darts Finals second round in Amsterdam. Littler now faces Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals on Sunday, and a win there would put him one step closer to winning his first clean sweep of majors in one year.
Littler’s Comeback Win
Littler took the last two legs to secure his victory, turning a tight match into a memorable one. The contest was evenly matched throughout, with neither player able to pull away until the very end.
Aspinall pushed hard but could not find the decisive shot when it mattered most. Littler held his nerve, and the win moves him forward into the knockout stage.
The Full Second-Round Results
Saturday’s play brought several other matches to their conclusions, with a mix of comfortable wins and tighter encounters across the board.
| Player | Result |
|---|---|
| Luke Littler | 10-9 Nathan Aspinall |
| Gerwyn Price | 10-5 Jim Long |
| James Wade | 10-7 Wessel Nijman |
| Dirk van Duijvenbode | 10-9 Luke Humphries |
| Josh Rock | 10-7 Ryan Searle |
| Ross Smith | 10-5 Daryl Gurney |
| Gian van Veen | 10-7 Karel Sedlacek |
| Jonny Clayton | 10-8 Motomu Sakai |
The format split matches between an afternoon session and an evening session, with each half delivering its own drama. Littler’s match came in the evening session, where the tension was at its highest.
The Matches That Mattered
Several other high-profile players were eliminated on Saturday. Luke Humphries lost 10-9 to Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Josh Rock secured a 10-7 win over Ryan Searle and Ross Smith beat Daryl Gurney 10-5.
Gian van Veen prevailed 10-7 against Karel Sedlacek and Jonny Clayton battled past Motomu Sakai 10-8.
Gerwyn Price defeated Jim Long 10-5, and James Wade saw off Wessel Nijman 10-7. Those results set up the quarter-final draw, which will determine who reaches the semi-finals on Sunday evening.
The Quarter-Final Draw
The quarter-finals will start from 12pm on Sunday, with four matches deciding who reaches the last two spots. The full draw pairs up as follows:
- Ross Smith vs Josh Rock
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Gian van Veen
- Gerwyn Price vs James Wade
- Luke Littler vs Jonny Clayton
Each match is a fresh start, and the players who survive will face a tougher test in the semi-finals later that day.
Littler’s Path to the Title
Littler will face Jonny Clayton in his quarter-final. A win there would put him through to the semi-finals, where the competition only gets harder.
The semi-finals and final will take place from 6pm on Sunday, following the quarter-finals in the afternoon. Littler will need to be at his best to reach the final and complete his set of titles.
The Clean Sweep Target
Littler is chasing a clean sweep of all three major darts titles in one year. He has already shown what he can do, and this win keeps that dream alive.
The pressure is mounting with each match, but Littler has responded to it so far.
The Match to Watch
Littler’s quarter-final against Clayton is the match to watch. Both players are capable of winning.
The quarter-finals start at 12pm on Sunday, giving fans plenty of time to tune in and follow the action. The semi-finals and final follow at 6pm, with the title on the line.
The Prize at Stake
Completing a clean sweep of all three major darts titles in one year would be a remarkable achievement. Littler has already shown what he can do, and this win keeps him in contention.
The road ahead is difficult, but Littler has proven he can handle the challenge. Sunday will tell us whether he can go all the way.
See the video the story is built around at Sky Sports.
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