"It's going to take something special for another player to beat me": Luke Littler fires warning to remaining World Matchplay rivals after emphatic Rock win
PDCThursday, 23 July 2026 at 23:57
A 16-7 win for Luke Littler as he took down Josh Rock who himself averaged 100 but it wasn't enough as again 'The Nuke' stormed to an easy win with a near 110 average.
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It wasn't the 113 heroics and a nine-darter of the other night against Nathan Aspinall, but still as he aims for further World Matchplay success, it perhaps wasn't needed. Rock stepped it up, but in the end it wasn't enough.
Littler now faces Dirk van Duijvenbode in the semi-finals and he fired a warning to the rest of the field that in reality it's going to take something wildly special to beat him.
"I feel really good on stage. My preparation beforehand has been going really well. It's just relaxing, practising, relaxing again, and I'm glad I can keep producing these performances on the big stage," said Littler post match to the media including DartsNews.com.
Littler is averaging over 110 across more than 60 legs which if he kept it up would be the greatest World Matchplay performance. It wasn't something Littler who is usually keyed in on stats was aware of, but he said that he saw Price was towards the top for most legs played in the tournament. So he does pay attention to some stats.
"I wouldn't say I'm aware of it. I saw something yesterday about Gezzy being near the top for the most legs played in this tournament. That's not where you want to be. You want to get the job done without going into those win-by-two situations. As long as I keep performing like that, I'll be happy."
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Asked if he feels unbeatable when he is playing like he is, he said that in reality his main port of call was getting into the next break ahead and away from Rock which is what he did. "After the second break, coming into the 11th leg, I just told myself I had to go into the next break with the lead.
"At 5-3 I think I left 342 when I should have been on 442. I rarely do that and I paid the price because Josh won that leg and then the next one. I wasn't happy going into the break level. I just said to myself to make sure I led going into the third break."
Luke Littler moves into the semi-finals.
Emulating Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor often feels like a cliche when it comes to Littler who is compared to him in every press conference and he was asked if he can emulate him in Blackpool.
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"I feel like I can. A 109 average, then a 113, then back to a 109 — that comes with the big finishes, the 180s and the scoring power as well. As long as I can keep that up, I'm sure I can dominate. But first, next game, let's try and get it back up to the 113s."
Littler has a superb record over Rock and he said that he wasn't aware of it, but that he knew that Rock was very much winning ugly and that he knew he'd step it up against him after last year's semi-final epic.
"I wouldn't say I was aware of the record. Before the match I said Josh hadn't been producing his best averages, but he'd still found a way to win his first two matches. I knew he'd step it up against me, and he did with another 100-plus average. I was just that little bit better."
He hasn't had any close shaves really this tournament, and he defined his strategy as getting out early and then just running away with it. He hopes to do the same when he faces Dirk van Duijvenbode next. "Definitely. I always want to come flying out of the traps, get an early lead and put my opponent under pressure.
"I don't think I managed that in the first ten legs today, but after that Josh was definitely chasing the game a little bit. That's what I'll want to do against Dirk as well — put him under pressure early."
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Luke Littler - It will take something special to beat me.
£3million awaits and elite mindset
Littler as was reported today is on the verge of reaching £3million in the Order of Merit and that he does think abou it. "I checked the rankings the other day and I think if I keep winning I'll go past the £3 million mark.
"As long as I'm playing like this and producing these numbers, it's going to take something special from another player to beat me. I've just got to keep going."
Littler's elite mindset is often marvelled at and he said that the pressure situations started early and he has developed to learn to deal with them. "It's developed over time. Even back on the Development Tour I wanted to win as much as I could and I finished right near the top, which helped me get onto the main tour.
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"Since my first World Championship I've just kept improving as a player and mentally as well. If I get into pressure situations now, I know how to deal with them."
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- I didn't like the bloke,but he was a real wind up merchant. His talent is wastedrick6712-08-2026
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Amusementman09-08-2026 - This gormless, dull as dishwater nobody hasn't done anything this year and has absolutely no right to be considered for anything other than checking people's tickets on entry and it is likely he couldn't cope with that.richieburnettrocks09-08-2026
- How can PDC players play in streamed events?medinabello04-08-2026
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- Indeed I've been to Dublin on numerous occasion the atmosphere was electric and the crowd were always pumped plus the City West was a cool venue. It was a good week away The double start and finish is different and actually very enjoyable but a week in a nothing happening crime riddled city in a soulless stadium does not appeal. The venue does not merit the competition and format.richieburnettrocks02-08-2026
- the grand prix is struggling so we need to change the format? it's the only tournament that HAS a different variant, and the reason it's struggling is the shitty venue/crowd, not the format. literally any other tournament on the calendar would've been a better example.colt01-08-2026
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