Luke Littler: Did the country’s No 1 know the Matchplay nine-darter was coming? How close are you to being the greatest? | Arrow News

Luke Littler thinks he still has a long way to go to become the “greatest” darts player of all time but is encouraged to keep checking his list of achievements, starting with a return to the World Matchplay in Blackpool.

Littler moved one step closer to that goal by booking a place in the quarter-finals against Josh Rock with an impressive 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall.

It was an amazing display from Littler. After hitting a nine-darter in the opening leg, he almost got it perfect again in the fourth but went wide in D15.

He also hit 14 180s in the tournament and his average of 113.68 is the second highest ever recorded in the World Matchplay behind Phil Taylor’s 144.99 back in 2010.

Littler continues his quest to become the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2017 to return to Blackpool, and the World No 1 currently holds the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League, and Masters. He also defends the Matchplay, Grand Slam, Grand Prix, and Players Championship Finals.

With a clean sweep still firmly in his sights, Littler needs to start the charge by defending his title by the sea. So, how close is Littler to being ‘the greatest ever’?

“Obviously that conversation has been going on, I think since I first came on the scene, it was ‘are you going to be the next Phil Taylor?'” Littler said.

“I’ve always said, unless I win 16 of these, 16 World Championships and any breaks, I think I’m going to be the greatest.

“Will I be around in 16 years? Who knows?

“If I win the next 16 World Championships, I’m gone.”

Can Littler expect a nine-darter? ‘I was saving it for later’

In his epic battle with Aspinall, Littler was D15 shy of two nine-hitters, a feat only Taylor has accomplished on TV.

While it was an exciting time to hit nine with his first nine darts, Littler’s practice might have given him an inkling that it might be coming.

“I just want to produce my best stats in every game I play and I think I did that again tonight,” he added.

“I think, at one point, I was at the highest level and Phil was at 114. So, I know that record is going to be broken.

“Everybody asks me how I did it, but I really don’t know. It was the first leg of the game and I went on to score double 15 again, it was really frustrating not to hit two in the game.

“I was practicing at home today and I made the first to 11 against the dart bot. I actually missed double 15 and my sister’s boyfriend said, ‘oh, s**p, you’.

“I was saving it for later. I hit it.”

Aspinall: The best game of my career

Although losing such an amazing and exciting encounter can be difficult, Aspinall took the loss as a motivational factor, describing the competition as the best he has ever been involved in and will use it to fuel his “hunger” going forward.

In a statement released on social media after the match, Aspinall said: “The best game of darts I have played in my career.

“I had everything and I gave everything.

“Well done to Luke Littler, you really weren’t there. Six trebleless outings in 19 legs is the number I get. Wow.

“That gave me back my hunger. The support was unreal.”

What happened on Wednesday at World Matchplay?

The second round continues on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, with four more big games to come.

Cameron Menzies will be looking to back up world No. 2 Luke Humphries’ big win when he takes on Ross Smith.

Gerwyn Price then faces fellow former world champion Rob Cross.

World number one Gian van Veen is up against fellow Dutchman and in-form Wessel Nijman, while James Wade plays Ryan Searle.

Who will win this year’s World Matchplay Darts? Luke Littler will be defending his title and you can watch all the action on Sky Sports. Stream darts and other top games NOW.