Littler hits nine-darter in victory over Aspinall in World Matchplay classic

[p]The defending champion averaged 113.68 and opened the contest with the perfect leg before missing a second nine-darter four legs later after wiring double 15.[/p][p]Despite averaging 12 points fewer than [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/littler-luke/0URN6Xks/"]Littler[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aspinall-nathan/KURJJrU5/"]Aspinall[/a] fought back to level at 7-7.[/p][p]Littler responded by winning the next three legs before missing a match dart at 10-7, allowing Aspinall to extend the contest with a 170 checkout.[/p][p]The world number one made no mistake in the following leg to book his place in the quarter-finals.[/p][embed guid="e1b3a84f-ad6f-431c-b232-fdff4448606a" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2079677272542310464?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It felt amazing. That was probably the best game me and Nathan have played against each other," [/b]Littler said.[/p][p][b]"I've seen the averages there, 113 for me, 101 for Nathan. I thought Nathan's average was going to be a bit better![/b][/p][p][b]"As soon as I missed double five, I knew he was going to hit the 170. [/b][b]I'm just glad to take part in such an amazing game."[/b][/p][embed guid="c37c7bd0-9968-45cf-9f37-1e942f875271" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2079666969997975605?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Littler hit 14 maximums and had just six visits without a treble during the 19-leg contest, while the pair's combined 22 180s set a new record for a World Matchplay second-round match.[/p][p]He will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rock-josh/xKxxNY1P/"]Josh Rock[/a] on Thursday after the Antrim native beat Liverpool's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bunting-stephen/xANKMtPG/"]Stephen Bunting[/a] 11-6.[/p][p]Rock pulled clear after a slow start, taking out 106 to lead 6-3 before wrapping up victory with a 140 finish to reach the quarter-finals for consecutive years. [/p][image alt="Match stats" id="4575fd9f-0e83-4f1a-920f-d02c2432e021" credit-line="PDC" guid="085d0a02-9b57-4e6a-b4d0-fb98c8dfba15" original-width="1080" original-height="1350" /][p][b]"That was probably one of the toughest games of my life,"[/b] Rock said.[/p][p][b]"Stephen is one of my best friends on the tour, and I had to change my mindset. [/b][b]I'm going to give it my all against Luke, because I'm here to win this title."[/b][/p][p]Elsewhere, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-duijvenbode-dirk/fVUrttSI/"]Dirk van Duijvenbode[/a] edged past compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-gerwen-michael/SU4UkKsm/"]Michael van Gerwen[/a] 14-12 in a deciding tie-break to reach the quarters for only the second time.[/p][p]The towering Dutchman led 8-4 before three-time champion Van Gerwen fought back, cutting the deficit to a single leg with an 11-darter and a 148 checkout.[/p][p]Van Duijvenbode regained control by breaking throw with an 11-dart leg at 12-12 before sealing victory.[/p][p]He will play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-gary/MyKZZS6r/"]Gary Anderson[/a] after the Scot beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clayton-jonny/tx0y2xRD/"]Jonny Clayton[/a] 11-7 to reach his first World Matchplay quarter-final since 2020.[/p][p]Clayton led 4-1 after a 121 checkout, but Anderson won eight of the next 10 legs before sealing victory with a 12-darter.[/p][embed guid="a1c9b0bf-c54f-4c9f-b800-45c623abfb4e" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2079643681494048773?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I'm a big fan of Jonny. He's a gentleman and a cracking, cracking darts player,"[/b] Anderson said.[/p][p][b]"I'll keep going, but it just proves the point that the old boys aren't finished yet."[/b][/p][p]The second round concludes on Wednesday with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-veen-gian/jgT1AT29/"]Gian van Veen[/a] facing fellow Dutchman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nijman-wessel/xCX137Ee/"]Wessel Nijman[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/menzies-cameron/2NUpDqVt/"]Cameron Menzies[/a] taking on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-ross/l8mIsYNm/"]Ross Smith[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/price-gerwyn/8dDDoW0B/"]Gerwyn Price[/a] meeting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cross-rob/zs8lbtNH/"]Rob Cross[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wade-james/MRrXjBAB/"]James Wade[/a] playing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/searle-ryan/UFF3Eh5C/"]Ryan Searle[/a].[/p][h2]Tuesday's results[/h2][p]Gary Anderson 11-7 Jonny Clayton[/p][p]Dirk van Duijvenbode 14-12 Michael van Gerwen[/p][p]Luke Littler 11-8 Nathan Aspinall[/p][p]Josh Rock 11-6 Stephen Bunting[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/darts/world/world-matchplay/"]Follow the World Matchplay with Flashscore[/a][/h2]