In a night that will be etched into darts folklore, 18-year-old prodigy Luke Littler delivered a jaw-dropping nine-dart finish during his semi-final clash against Josh Rock at the 2025 World Matchplay in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. This wasn’t just any nine-darter; it was a leg of such pristine perfection that it sparked debates across the darting world: could this be the most flawless leg ever played? With neither Littler nor Rock missing a single dart in a breathtaking sequence of 15 perfect throws, the moment transcended sport, leaving fans, players, and commentators in awe.
The stage was set for an electrifying encounter between Littler, the reigning world champion, and Rock, a 24-year-old Northern Irish star who had surged back into the spotlight with his blistering form. The hype surrounding their first-ever meeting was palpable, but no one could have predicted the historic drama that unfolded in the eighth leg. Trailing 6-1 and struggling to find his rhythm, Littler faced a relentless Rock, who opened the leg with two consecutive 180s, raising the roof at the Winter Gardens. Undeterred, Littler matched him with two maximums of his own, setting the stage for a finish that would rewrite darts history. With the crowd on its feet, Littler coolly nailed a 141 checkout—treble 20, treble 17, double 15—to complete the nine-darter, denying Rock the chance to do the same. The result? A leg where every dart found its mark, a feat never before seen on the PDC Tour.
“It definitely sparked me into life,” Littler reflected, his understated reaction belying the magnitude of his achievement. “I didn’t want to give it big because I was playing awfully.” His shrug after the final dart spoke volumes about his composure under pressure, but commentator Wayne Mardle was far less restrained. “That is the second-best leg you will ever see in your life!” he roared, drawing comparisons to the iconic 2023 World Championship final leg between Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith, where Van Gerwen narrowly missed a nine-darter. Unlike that leg, however, Littler and Rock’s duel featured no errors, elevating it to a new echelon of perfection.
The nine-darter was a turning point for Littler, who had been outplayed early on. Rock’s blistering start saw him race to a 5-0 lead, capitalizing on Littler’s uncharacteristic struggles. “I struggled early on, and Josh didn’t miss a thing,” Littler admitted. Yet, the perfect leg ignited a comeback for the ages. From 8-4 down, Littler won seven of the next eight legs, seizing an 11-9 lead. Rock fought back with a stunning 170 checkout and a 120 finish, narrowing the gap to 14-12, but Littler’s relentless precision—averaging 107.5 and hitting 15 180s—sealed a 17-14 victory. The match set a World Matchplay record with 29 maximums, a testament to the ferocity of their battle.
This wasn’t Littler’s first brush with perfection. At just 18, he has already notched four televised nine-darters, including one at the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters at age 16, making him the youngest to achieve the feat on television. His latest masterpiece, the 10th nine-darter in World Matchplay history and the first of 2025, propelled him into the final against James Wade, a 42-year-old veteran chasing his second Matchplay title. For Littler, the stakes were even higher: a win would complete the coveted Triple Crown—World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay—joining the elite company of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries.
The final promised a clash of generations, with Littler’s fearless flair pitted against Wade’s seasoned grit. Wade, who survived a grueling 20-18 semi-final against Jonny Clayton, was no stranger to Blackpool’s pressure cooker. “It’s going to be another tough test,” Littler said, acknowledging Wade’s resurgence. “James is playing some unreal darts at the moment, but we go again!” The prospect of Littler becoming the youngest Matchplay champion, surpassing Wade’s record set in 2007, added another layer of intrigue to an already historic weekend.
As the darts world buzzed with excitement, the question lingered: was Littler’s nine-darter the most perfect leg ever? Its flawless execution, with both players trading maximums and Littler’s clinical finish, made a compelling case. For now, the Winter Gardens faithful and millions watching worldwide could only savor a moment that redefined what’s possible on the oche.
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