Luke Littler managed to seal the start of his
World Matchplay title defence, while
Stephen Bunting and
Nathan Aspinall also moved through albeit neither were exactly easy winners on Night One in Blackpool.
Littler was behind at the first break as he faced off against Niko Springer, but he rallied well to seal a 10-6 win with a 109 average in what was a rip roaring start from 'The Nuke'.
To start, Springer missed 170 and Littler was back for double five for 2-0. Springer pounced after missed darts for a 73 checkout to break. He was now throwing for 2-2.
A 25 checkout on double eight to make it 2-2 for Springer followed. Springer missed 104 for a break. Littler returned to miss two darts but Springer won on double 10 for 3-2 at the break.
Springer couldn't pin 100 and back came Littler who had left double two from 181 to break back and make it 3-3. A 62 checkout for Littler making it 4-3. Littler broke again with a 70 checkout for 5-3. Springer broke back with a 114 checkout to make it 5-4. The German hits 100 for level pegging at 5-5.
Littler pinned double 10 for 6-5. An 85 checkout for Littler who went 7-5 up. A 180 and a 94 checkout to make it 8-5. A 93 checkout for Springer to hold and keep it going for 8-6 down. Double 20 for Littler saw him go one away. He broke with a 45 checkout to make it 10-6.
Bunting brilliance steals the show
But despite the brilliance of Littler, perhaps the game of the night saw Stephen Bunting nearly dumped out by debutant Niels Zonneveld in a game that saw sudden death on the menu already only two games into the tournament.
Bunting missed the chance for an early break but returned for double 10 to make it 1-0. A brilliant 121 on double 16 for Bunting using the outer bull for 2-0 up. Zonneveld missed 104 for a first leg. Bunting returned zipping at 147 but couldn't get a shot and Zonneveld held for 2-1.
Zonneveld couldn't get a shot at 161 but Bunting returned for a dart at 80 and pinned double 20 for 3-1. Zonneveld pinned double 12 for 3-2 down.
A 180 from Bunting saw him head towards the finish on Zonneveld's throw. Zonneveld's dart fell out the board as he looked for a 180. Bunting hit two bulls for 132 but missed double 16 and Zonneveld came back for 124 on double 11. Zonneveld was 4-3 down holding throw. Stephen Bunting couldn't pin 120 for 6-3 and Zonneveld kept the pressure up on double two at 5-4 down.
A 180 to leave double 12 and Bunting went 6-4 up at the break. Zonneveld missed 71 for 6-5. Bunting returned after Zonneveld missed further chances. Bunting missed the bull and Zonneveld came back to finally make it 6-5. Bunting missed 141 on double 12. Zonneveld took aim at 128 but couldn't get the treble 20 for the bull. He did hit bull but only left double 20 allowing Bunting back for 7-5.
Bunting brilliance steals the show.
Zonneveld missed three darts to hold and Bunting came back to pin 89 on the bull for 8-5. Bunting missed 47 on double 16 for 9-5 and Zonneveld came back to break for 8-6. An absolutely brilliant 164 checkout from Zonneveld who broke and was throwing to go one away.
Bunting missed clear darts to break back and Zonneveld returned to make it 9-8. Overtime came though. Bunting missed three clear at double 20 for 10-9 in which he'd break and throw for the win. Zonneveld returned but missed all three darts.
Bunting busted on double 15 and Zonneveld hit double five to make it 10-9 himself. Zonneveld had three match darts but spurned them all. Bunting back with a 118 checkout to send it to 10-10. Zonneveld had to whittle down 150 over hit it. He left 56 and Bunting took aim at 104 to go to the brink again but he missed double 16. Back came Zonneveld for 11-10.
A brilliant 140 from Bunting sees him go towards 11-11. Zonneveld back on 160 even if he missed it. Bunting missed all three.
Zonneveld had to hit 160 to win. But he couldn't and Bunting came back for double five for 11-11. Then Bunting had to hit 104. But he couldn't. Zonneveld back for double 10 to make it 12-11. Sudden death came. But Zonneveld could only get down to 160 and Bunting got himself down to 60 and had first shot to win but he missed two darts at double 16. Zonneveld couldn't get it and Bunting returned for double 16 to snare an epic.
Aspinall downs close friend Cullen as Rock concludes Woodhouse charge
Nathan Aspinall faced off against his close friend Joe Cullen in the final match of the night and he managed to seal the win 10-5 in the end.
He hit a 105 average in the process to continue his exceptional form at times last weekend in Leverkusen. He admitted at times recently that his heart perhaps wasn't hugely in it, but no doubt he will take huge heart and confidence from this.
To start the game and sat at the break, plenty of high scoring legs but no breaks as Aspinall hit 167 superbly to go 3-2 up. Aspinall cracked the code and pinned 91 for a break at 4-2. Then double six for 6-2. He was now aiming to hold for 7-2.
Aspinall though despite breaking for 6-2 had been broken immediately back for 65 for 6-3. Cullen held throw for 6-4 on double 16 and it's now Aspinall trying to make it 7-4. But Aspinall can't as he misses 120 and then after missing 92 originally, Cullen returned for double nine to go 6-5 down.
Aspinall broke back immediately with a 71 checkout for 7-5. Cullen missed 170 for 7-6 to break back but Aspinall went two away on double 14 for 8-5 down.
Aspinall defeats close friend Cullen.
Aspinall broke again with Cullen only troubling with a 180 to leave 77. But The Asp made it 9-5. He hit double 20 to then seal it.
While
Josh Rock made light work of a tricky customer in Luke Woodhouse. Woodhouse missed double 20 for a hold off 85. But he returned only to hand Rock a chance at 107 eventually. He missed double 20 for it though.
But Woodhouse missed further at double two and Rock came back to hit double 20 last dart for a break at 5-2 up. Woodhouse missed bull for 122. Rock returned for double 16 for 6-2 and a hold. Woodhouse missed 164 and Rock came back for double 15 to break again for 7-2.
Rock missed three darts for 8-2 allowing Woodhouse back for 90. Woodhouse missed bull for 7-3 and Rock returned for double four. Rock missed a chance at 161 and Woodhouse returned for 84. He pinned bull for 8-3 down.
Woodhouse missed 140 on double 10. Rock returned for 97 to go one away at 9-3. Double eight for Woodhouse to go 9-4 down. Rock went on to win through 10-4.