Nathan Aspinall stunned by Luke Littler’s nine-darter in World Matchplay thriller

Nathan Aspinall hit by Littler’s perfect leg in World Matchplay upset

Nathan Aspinall saw his World Matchplay hopes dashed in dramatic fashion on Friday night when Luke Littler threw a nine-darter to knock out the top seed in Blackpool.

The 17-year-old Littler stunned Aspinall 10-8 in their second-round clash on 18 July 2026, with the teenage prodigy sealing the win with a 141 checkout and a flawless 121 finish.

What happened in the match?

Aspinall, seeded first in the PDC event, never recovered after Littler raced to a 5-2 lead inside the opening eight legs. The 33-year-old from Stockport fought back to 7-6, but Littler answered with back-to-back 121 finishes to regain control.

The nine-darter came in the 15th leg, Littler firing T20, T19, D12 to complete the perfect leg and spark wild celebrations from the partisan Winter Gardens crowd. Aspinall managed a late surge to 9-8, but Littler sealed the win moments later.

Why it matters for Nathan Aspinall

This defeat marks Aspinall’s earliest World Matchplay exit since 2023 and ends his bid to claim his first Lakeside crown. The loss drops him to 12th in the PDC Order of Merit, while Littler’s win propels the teenager into the last 16.

For Aspinall, the setback piles pressure on a season already short on silverware. His 2026 campaign has lacked the consistency that took him to the 2025 World Championship final, and another early exit risks questions over his title credentials.

What comes next?

Littler faces Chris Dobey next, while Aspinall will regroup for the World Grand Prix in October. The Stockport star must rediscover his form fast if he’s to avoid a repeat of last year’s autumn slump.

Aspinall’s next ranking event is the World Grand Prix, starting on 12 October 2026 in Leicester. Littler, meanwhile, eyes a deep run in Blackpool after his stunning debut nine-darter.

Key stats from the clash

Littler’s nine-darter was the 77th in PDC history and the first in the World Matchplay since 2024. Aspinall averaged 95.12 but couldn’t contain Littler’s clinical finishing, which included 11 maximums to Aspinall’s eight.

The teenager’s 121 checkout sealed the win after Aspinall missed double 12 for a 10-9 finish. Littler now boasts a 100% record against Aspinall in televised matches.