In a shocking turn of events at the 2025 Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen, teenage darting sensation Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, saw his title aspirations crumble in the quarter-finals, falling 6-3 to his management stablemate Nathan Aspinall. The 18-year-old, dubbed ‘The Nuke’ for his explosive scoring, entered the Forum Copenhagen as the pre-tournament favorite, backed by odds of 33/25 to claim the crown. Yet, Aspinall, the world No. 6, delivered a masterclass in finishing, ending a 12-match losing streak against Littler with a performance that left the Danish crowd buzzing and the darting world stunned. “Nathan Aspinall beats Luke Littler!! What a performance,” one fan exclaimed on social media, capturing the electric sentiment surrounding the upset.
Littler’s journey in Copenhagen began with a shaky first-round win over Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom, a World Series debutant ranked No. 147. Despite a sluggish start, averaging just 81 points per three darts at 2-2, Littler found his rhythm with 11- and 12-dart legs to secure a 6-3 victory. “As can sometimes be the case with ‘The Nuke,’ something seemed to just click,” observers noted, as he took control against Tingstrom, who faltered with missed doubles in the ninth leg. However, the quarter-final clash with Aspinall, aired live on ITV4 on June 7, 2025, proved a different challenge. Littler, coming off a heartbreaking 11-8 loss to Luke Humphries in the Premier League final eight days earlier, struggled to match his usual precision, averaging 100.33 but managing only 42.86% on his doubles.
Aspinall, by contrast, was clinical, hitting 60% of his doubles and finishing with a 99.58 average. The Stockport star, fresh off his European Darts Open title in Leverkusen, seized the moment with a brilliant 13-darter to close out the match, taking out double 16 to a roaring crowd. “Aspinall maintains his fine form in the Danish capital,” commentators praised, noting his resilience despite back-to-back bounce-outs early in the match. The victory marked only his second professional win over Littler in 16 meetings, the first since a Premier League night in Nottingham in March 2024. Aspinall’s jubilant reaction, giving it back to the Copenhagen fans who had booed him during his 6-0 first-round rout of local hope Benjamin Reus, underscored the emotional weight of the triumph. “To bounce back after the defeat last Thursday and win in Leverkusen, it shows where my game’s at at the moment,” Aspinall had said earlier, his confidence carrying him into the semi-finals.
The Nordic Darts Masters, the third event in the 2025 World Series, featured a star-studded field, including world No. 1 Luke Humphries, defending champion Gerwyn Price, and top seed Stephen Bunting. Littler’s exit opened the door for others, with quarter-final matchups like Humphries vs. Price and Bunting vs. Jonny Clayton promising fireworks. Littler’s earlier World Series outings in 2025—a quarter-final loss in Bahrain and a semi-final exit in the Dutch Darts Masters—hinted at vulnerability, but his Copenhagen defeat was a stark reminder of the sport’s unpredictability. Despite outscoring Aspinall with more 180s and 100-plus visits, Littler’s missed doubles proved costly, a point of frustration for the teenager who has dominated darts since his 2024 World Championship final run at age 17.
Littler’s meteoric rise, from hitting a nine-darter against Aspinall in the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters to claiming 10 titles in his debut PDC season, has made him a household name. His 2025 World Championship triumph over Michael van Gerwen cemented his status as the sport’s youngest world champion. Yet, Aspinall’s victory highlighted the depth of talent in darts, where even a phenom like Littler can be outplayed. “The crowd wanted a comeback, but I just wanted to finish it,” Littler had said after his World Championship quarter-final win over Aspinall, a stark contrast to his Copenhagen disappointment.
As Littler looks ahead, his focus shifts to the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, where he’ll team up with Humphries to defend England’s title from June 12-15. “I cannot wait,” Littler said, eager to channel his frustration into a new challenge. For Aspinall, the win is a statement of intent, proving he can topple the sport’s biggest name. As the Nordic Darts Masters moves to its semi-finals and final, the darting world is left marveling at a result that underscores the fine margins and fierce competition defining the 2025 season.
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