The electric atmosphere of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens is set to ignite as 18-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, steps up to face Dutch veteran Jermaine Wattimena in the second round of the 2025 World Matchplay on July 23. Fresh off a commanding 10-2 victory over Ryan Searle, Littler is the overwhelming favorite, priced at 1/12 by bookmakers to advance to the quarterfinals. Yet, Wattimena’s bold claim that he has “never played bad” against Littler has added a layer of intrigue to this clash, despite the Dutchman’s 0-4 record against the young star. “That’s exactly what Littler wants,” one observer noted, suggesting that Wattimena’s confidence could play into the hands of the teenage prodigy, whose clinical precision thrives against fiery opponents.
Littler’s first-round performance was nothing short of spectacular. Averaging an astonishing 108.92, landing five 180s, and boasting a 52.6% checkout rate, he dismantled Searle with a display that sent a clear message to the field. “I was well up for tonight. I really wanted that winning feeling,” Littler said after the match, his eyes already fixed on the next challenge. “I’ve been practising so much recently. I’m glad it’s paid off, and I cannot wait to come back on Wednesday.” His dominance comes at a pivotal moment, with world No. 1 Luke Humphries crashing out to Gian van Veen on the tournament’s opening night, leaving Littler as the frontrunner to claim his maiden Matchplay title.
Wattimena, ranked No. 30, earned his place in the last 16 with a hard-fought 10-8 win over 2021 champion Peter Wright. Known for his rapid-fire throwing style and nicknamed “The Machine Gun,” the 37-year-old Dutchman brings a wealth of experience to the oche. His recent resurgence, including a run to the 2024 European Championship final, has bolstered his confidence. “I’m really sure I can do this now,” Wattimena declared after a dramatic 10-9 victory over Dimitri Van den Bergh at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts, where he survived eight match darts. Yet, his history against Littler tells a different story. In four previous encounters—most notably a 16-2 thrashing in the 2024 Grand Slam quarterfinals and a 10-4 loss at the 2025 UK Open—Littler has averaged a staggering 28-9 leg advantage, even as Wattimena posted averages above 100 in three of those matches.
Wattimena’s fiery persona has occasionally stirred controversy. During the 2023 Dutch Darts Championship, he broke an unwritten rule of darts etiquette by gesturing to the crowd while Joe Cullen prepared to throw in a deciding leg, prompting Cullen to refuse a post-match handshake. “He didn’t give a hand, and then I made a move. Did I do it on purpose? No,” Wattimena later told a Dutch outlet, expressing regret. “It was in the heat of the moment. Sorry to Joe Cullen, it was not the intention. I understand he’s upset, because you just can’t do this.” Similar tensions arose at the 2025 Belgian Darts Open, where Stephen Bunting faced a frosty exchange after Wattimena felt his pace was disruptive. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Jermaine, but I didn’t expect that,” Bunting remarked, puzzled by the Dutchman’s reaction.
Despite these incidents, Wattimena’s competitive spirit makes him a dangerous opponent, particularly in a high-stakes setting like the World Matchplay. His ability to produce high averages—often exceeding 100—means he can keep pace with Littler’s scoring prowess, but his finishing has faltered against the teenager’s ruthless efficiency. Bookmakers offer 6/1 odds for Wattimena to pull off an upset, with intriguing bets like 13/2 for two or more bull finishes and 18/1 for nine or more 180s, reflecting his potential to dazzle. “Wattimena plays anyone else and he’s winning comfortably,” one fan commented online, lamenting his misfortune of repeatedly facing Littler at his peak.
For Littler, the matchup is ideal. Wattimena’s aggressive style and tendency to engage the crowd could feed into Littler’s ability to thrive under pressure, as seen in his 2024 Grand Slam performance, where he averaged 105.1 and landed 12 maximums to crush the Dutchman. “Luke’s got that presence,” PDC commentator Mark Webster said, likening Littler’s dominance to darts legend Phil Taylor. With the Winter Gardens crowd behind him, Littler’s focus remains razor-sharp. “I think all eyes are on me now, but I will just take it game by game,” he said, undeterred by the weight of expectations.
As the darts world tunes in, this second-round clash promises fireworks. Wattimena’s confidence and experience make him a formidable foe, but Littler’s unmatched consistency and composure at just 18 years old position him as the player to beat. Will Wattimena finally crack the Littler code, or will “The Nuke” continue his explosive run toward darts immortality? The answer awaits on the Blackpool stage.
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