"He’ll always try until the end": Luke Littler took inspiration from Nathan Aspinall in dramatic World Matchplay comeback

Luke Littler produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2025 World Matchplay so far, clawing his way back from 7–2 down to win in overtime and reminded the Blackpool crowd exactly why he’s the reigning World Champion. One he reflected upon including with DartsNews post match.

“Yeah, glad to get over the line,” Littler said, reflecting on an emotionally charged night at the Winter Gardens. “It was tough work, both breaks being three or four legs behind. But I think if it hadn’t gone into that second break at 7-3, it would’ve obviously been a lot tougher. I just said to myself, ‘You’ve got to come firing out the blocks.’ Like I always say, you’re on stage till the end.”

The turning point came after the second break, when Littler gestured defiantly to the crowd with a now-iconic “I’m still here” moment – a sign that he was far from finished. “I didn’t really think of it because the crowd were still there, they were still loud in voice,” he said. “But like I said, if it didn’t go 7-3, it would’ve been a lot harder. I just said to myself, you’ve got to win at least two or three legs when you come back on.”

For the first time since winning the World Championship in January, Littler pointed to the star on his shirt – a symbolic statement of his belief. “It was just saying to myself, saying to the fans, we’re champions for a reason. We can come back. And for myself, I always find these games somewhere. Obviously, I’d rather be blasting off until the end like I did against Ratajski, but it wasn’t to be – and I came back.”

The 18-year-old knows he could be on a collision course with Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals, a clash fans are already salivating over. “Yeah, it certainly could be,” Littler said. “Obviously, mine and Jermaine’s game – it was unbelievable for both of us. Not high averages, and the doubles weren’t too good. But like I’ve said the past two times I’ve been here, you’ve just got to look at what’s in front of you. I’ve played Andrew Gilding once before, and for myself, I’ve just got to find my routine – there’s nothing else.”

That second break proved to be a vital mental reset. “I literally just said to myself, ‘You’re on until the end – you’ve got to put it in.’ Like I said, come firing out the blocks, win the next two or three legs to be in with a chance. I think I won the next five to go into the lead for the first time at 8-7. It went back to 8-8, but I felt as I was coming back that Jermaine dropped off a bit. I thought, ‘I’ve kind of got him here,’ but then he rose back up and forced me to win by two clear legs.”

With expectations sky-high every time Littler steps on stage, frustration might have been natural early on. “Yeah, obviously. The first leg, I just absolutely made a mess of it, and Jermaine kicked on from there. Another crucial moment was that tops-on-top shot. Before I hit it, I just said, ‘You’ve got to hit it. If you do, walk straight off stage.’”

Looking ahead to his clash with Gilding, Littler said: “Yeah, certainly it’s going to be a challenge. The pace isn’t there for yourself. Like I did in my first Worlds, you’ve just got to find some sort of routine you can get into – and I’m sure it’ll be a good game.”

The roar of the Winter Gardens crowd added to the occasion. “Yeah, probably since the Ryan Joyce game,” Littler said when asked if it was his most emotional match since the Worlds. “I’ve not let that much emotion out since then. But it’s good for myself to show the emotion and show I can always find a way to come back.”

Yet even Littler couldn’t explain the sluggish start. “No idea. I’ll be honest – practising, I was nearly hitting 180s pretty much every time. Wasn’t missing a single. Practising backstage I was really good, but when I got on stage, it just didn’t happen. Eventually, I found a bit of form. But other than that, you’ve just got to get on with it.”

At the end of the match, his opponent Jermaine Wattimena shared in the moment. “He just said, ‘What a f****** game.’ I said, ‘Well played.’ I couldn’t believe I wasn’t playing my best darts. Like I said, Jermaine dropped off a bit, then came back to force the two clear legs. But yeah, that’s probably one of the biggest wins for myself.”

Wattimena had come into the match as a heavy underdog, but Littler wasn’t surprised by the challenge. “No one can write anyone off. It’s darts – anything can happen. We’ve seen some big shocks already. But like I said, whoever performs on the day wins.”

Littler is known for favouring tops and tens, but deviated early in the match. “Just instinct,” he said. “I’ve done it for years – whatever double I leave in the first leg, I tend to go for that in the early legs to see how it plays out. If it doesn’t work, you’ve got to swap. The tops and tens moved a little bit, but I definitely got the other line.”

He also soaked in the unique Winter Gardens atmosphere. “Yeah, I’ve played in some brilliant arenas. Obviously, for myself, the World Championship takes some beating – but this is probably second best. The fans definitely got their money’s worth tonight. That’s what happens in darts.”

Was there a moment where he thought the match had gone? “I think it was at 7-2. I said to myself, ‘You’ve got to win this leg, otherwise it’s going to be so hard to come back.’ And I hit it. As I said – I’m still here. Then I won the next five legs, went into the lead for the first time, and from there it was just great.”

Despite everything he’s already achieved, Littler is still only 18 – but doesn’t claim to have the strongest mentality in the game. “I probably wouldn’t say so. I think one of the players with the best mentality is Nathan Aspinall. If he’s five or six-nil down, he’ll always find a way to come back. I was three or four legs down each time tonight, and I found a way. Maybe I took a bit of inspiration from him. I know Nathan well – he never gives up. He’ll always try until the end. For myself, I just said, ‘If you’ve got to find something, put it all the way.’”

That nightmare start – busting 127 and letting the leg slip – didn’t help, but he insists it wasn’t decisive. “Yeah, I wouldn’t say so. I obviously busted the 127 and got another shot. I was feeling confident, but I made a mess of the doubles, and Jermaine kicked on. He won the next four, and I picked up a leg to go 4-1 down at the break. It wasn’t really the first leg – obviously it would’ve helped to win it and hold throw, but I found a way eventually.”

And could this thrilling win be a sign his name is on the trophy? “I’ve said throughout this tournament, you can only look at what’s in front of you. Gezzy’s on the other side of the draw. I don’t even know who else is on that half. For me, it’s just about focusing and getting back in.”