Luke Littler delivered a performance to remember at Wolverhampton, storming into the Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals with a dominant 16-2 victory over Jermaine Wattimena. The 17-year-old sensation showcased his immense talent and relentless scoring power, leaving fans and commentators in awe as he etched his name in the tournament’s history books with the most lopsided quarter-final win ever seen at the event. Littler surpassed the previous record, held by darts legend Phil Taylor, who had defeated Michael Smith 16-3. But Littler’s performance went beyond simply the scoreline—it was a masterclass in precision, power, and unshakable confidence.
From the outset, Littler set the tone with a breathtaking display, coming within one dart of a nine-darter in just the second leg. His break of throw left Wattimena visibly stunned and sent shockwaves through the crowd, which roared in appreciation of the young star’s skills. The early session ended 4-1 in Littler’s favor, with seven maximums in five legs, a stat that underscored his blistering form. His dominance continued unabated, and by the ninth leg, the rarity of him not hitting a 180 was almost a talking point in itself—a sign of just how frequently he was finding the treble 20.
Littler’s brilliance was not limited to his scoring prowess. He demonstrated his ability to finish under pressure with a series of high checkouts that further demoralized his opponent. With checkouts of 104, 164, and a stunning 167 on the bullseye, he extended his lead to 8-2, leaving Wattimena with no room to breathe. Wattimena, typically a formidable competitor, found himself unable to gain any traction as Littler relentlessly hit the trebles and refused to let up. The young prodigy reeled off six straight legs to reach a 14-2 advantage, a relentless march that exemplified his ruthless approach.
As Littler moved within one leg of victory, he maintained his composure and focus, taking every opportunity with clinical precision. Needing 110 to seal the match, he calmly nailed tops, sending the Wolverhampton crowd into a frenzy. His historic win, achieved with a 105 average, 12 180s, and a 62% success rate on doubles, took just under 28 minutes—a testament to both his skill and the relentless pace at which he played.
Reflecting on his extraordinary performance, Littler spoke to *Sky Sports* about his confidence and determination. “I felt very confident coming into tonight,” he said. “I played so well. I’m so happy. Fair play to Jermaine—I was too good tonight.” Littler’s near miss on a nine-darter epitomized his confidence, as he noted, “When you’re playing that good, you feel [a nine-darter] coming every time. Every time I go for a 180, the crowd expects it. As a player, you do feel it coming, and hopefully, it does come.”
The victory was yet another milestone for the teenager, propelling him into the world’s top 16—a position that reflects the consistency and brilliance he has shown throughout the ranking tournaments. “It just goes to show how well I’ve played in the ranking tournaments,” Littler commented. “I’ve got myself in the top 16 now. I’ve looked ahead, and if I win this competition, I go to number five. I’m just looking at the semi-final tomorrow.”
Standing between Littler and a spot in the final is veteran Gary Anderson, who secured his own place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 16-14 victory over Gian van Veen. Anderson’s clash with Van Veen was a tense affair, with the Dutchman going into the first break 3-2 up after both players held their throws and exchanged a break. However, Anderson, known as the ‘Flying Scotsman,’ found his rhythm and began to assert control, displaying masterful finishing, including a 124 checkout and a Shanghai. He surged to a 9-6 lead, but Van Veen refused to go quietly, narrowing the gap to 10-9 and continuing to challenge the experienced Scotsman.
In a critical moment, Anderson seized an 84 checkout to restore a two-leg cushion and managed to stay one step ahead of Van Veen, who kept the match alive with spectacular moments like a 140 checkout. The tense battle reached its climax with Anderson finally clinching victory on D12 after Van Veen’s spirited comeback effort took the match to 15-14. Anderson’s performance featured a 99.13 average, 11 maximums, and a 57% success rate on doubles—a display of experience and resilience under pressure.
Reflecting on Littler’s earlier performance, Anderson praised the young star’s brilliance while injecting some humor. “I watched the [Littler] game. It was fantastic, wasn’t it? We were sitting upstairs watching it,” Anderson told *Sky Sports*. “Luke was, tonight, different gravy. I might just give him a hard kick in the shins before I come on.”
The stage is set for an electrifying semi-final showdown between youth and experience, with Littler’s meteoric rise pitted against Anderson’s wealth of big-stage expertise. As the Grand Slam of Darts unfolds, fans eagerly await another unforgettable chapter in what has already been a tournament full of memorable moments.