Stephen Bunting averts Ryan Joyce examination as Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton send World Matchplay statements on Night Two
PDC
Luke Littler put on a darting masterclass and at one point looked on course to break the record for the highest World Matchplay average as he obliterated Ryan Searle 10-2 on Night Two of the World Matchplay. While Jonny Clayton, Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting sealed mixed levels of victories.
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Littler said afterwards to Sky Sports that it was very much win by any means necessary. A monkey off the back so to speak as he lost last year in the stand out opening tie against Michael van Gerwen.
Going into any tournament now, he has almost ascended into that Michael van Gerwen mode of being the favourite no matter what form he's in. Apart from the World Series, there hasn't been much to go off with Littler taking time off instead of playing European Tours in particular or ProTours.
But sometimes that can lead to lethargic darts or in this case sublime statements and it was definitely the latter. He hit a 108.92 average, five 180's, a highest checkout of 126 and 52.6% on the doubles. He was at one point averaging around 113 concurrently.
An 84 checkout was an emphatic opening act for Littler. A 126 checkout saw him go 2-0 up. Searle missed 153 for an opening gambit and Littler returned for double eight to make it 3-0. A 47 checkout saw Littler lead 4-0.
Searle missed doubles for a 4-1 but he returned only to miss more darts. Littler hit a 104 checkout to go 6-0 up but Searle finally stopped the whitewash.
But Littler was still romping towards victory including a 102 and an 11-darter thrown into the mix. Searle broke for 8-2. Littler missed bull for an 85 checkout to go 9-2 up but returned only to miss two more darts. Searle miscounted and Littler hit double eight double eight for 9-2.
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Littler hit 90 from 130 to leave three darts at double 20. He pinned it first time for a 10-2 win.
| Luke Littler | VS | Ryan Searle |
|---|---|---|
| 108.92 | Average (3 Darts) | 98.63 |
| 15 | 100+ Thrown | 17 |
| 12 | 140+ Thrown | 8 |
| 5 | 180 Thrown | 3 |
| 126 | Highest Checkout | 40 |
| 2 | Checkout 100+ | 0 |
| 52.6 | Checkout percentage | 33.3 |
| 10 / 19 | Checkout | 2 / 6 |
People's Champion Bunting makes fans sweat
A player who continues to produce and excel on the big stage is Stephen Bunting but he was made to massively work for it to end Night Two against Ryan Joyce.
Probably the toughest test of any of the ProTour qualifiers due to his rock solid, unfazed nature and doubling prowess, it was on full display tonight. But it was 10-8 to 'The Bullet'.
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Bunting hit a 180 to leave 81 and he hit double eight for a 3-1 lead. A 116 checkout saw Joyce go 3-2 down. Joyce bust his score and Bunting picked his pocket to hold for 4-2.
Joyce broke for 4-4 hitting double 20 but Bunting hit straight back for 5-4 with a 64 checkout on double 16. He went 6-4 up though at the next interval.
He pinned double 18 for a 10-darter to send a statement. Bunting missed darts eight and nine for a nine-dart finish and Joyce picked his pocket for 8-5.
Joyce missed 67 for 8-6 but returned to break. He continued to put the pressure on and Bunting handed him chance after chance to make it 8-8 and he gratefully took it.
Bunting couldn't get a shot at 121 and Joyce took aim at 89. He missed double five as Bunting returned for 9-8. An excellent leg though hoisted it in Bunting's direction as he moves through.
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Clinical Clayton sends statement
Jonny Clayton was perhaps the second most impressive on Night Two. 'The Ferret' was facing Martin Schindler who came out the tones of Without Me by Eminem instead of his usual Pink Floyd number in the UK or Ich Will by Rammstein when he's back at home.
But while the humour was there, it certainly wasn't in the early stages in particular for Schindler who hit a brick wall called Jonny Clayton. He started as he meant to go on with two finger points to the camera in one leg. He hit two maximums and then sealed the leg.
Clayton hit yet another maximum leaving 98 missing double 12 for a 2-0 lead. Schindler went double double on 136 but to no avail and Clayton hit double 12 for 2-0.
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Clayton was averaging around 125 as Schindler wasn't even getting a shot. He missed his trademark 121. Schindler took aim at 106 but couldn't get a dart. Clayton pinned double eight for 3-0.
Schindler battled the English boos but couldn't keep out the Welsh wizard.
Schindler finally got on the board with an 87 checkout to make it 3-1. He was throwing to go one behind again. Clayton hit a sublime 170 to leave 135. Schindler had to hit 114 to not go 4-1 down at the break and he hit a single five straight away.
Clayton had no complaints with double 18 and headed into the opening break well ahead. Clayton missed double 14 for 148. But returned to go 5-1 up.
Schindler missed 101 to go 5-2 down but returned to hit double eight. Schindler couldn't hit 170 and Clayton returned for 76 on double eight for 6-2. Schindler hit a 55 checkout to make it 6-3 to keep in touch. But it was the early damage that told.
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Schindler hit an 88 checkout to break back and he sat at 6-4 down at the next interval. But Clayton surged ahead again to break back and go 8-4 up. Schindler emphatically held but was running out of time and legs.
Clayton pinned double 18 for 9-5 to go one away. He missed bull for 84 to win it and Schindler hit double six for 9-6. Clayton couldn't get a match dart and Schindler made it 9-7 and was suddenly throwing for 9-8.
Schindler missed double six to stay in it and Clayton took aim at double five. The German is a hero on the European Tour but in majors, he still isn't getting the just rewards. Clayton is though.
| Jonny Clayton | VS | Martin Schindler |
|---|---|---|
| 99.6 | Average (3 Darts) | 103.45 |
| 25 | 100+ Thrown | 20 |
| 8 | 140+ Thrown | 11 |
| 8 | 180 Thrown | 6 |
| 108 | Highest Checkout | 88 |
| 1 | Checkout 100+ | 0 |
| 41.7 | Checkout percentage | 50 |
| 10 / 24 | Checkout | 7 / 14 |
Anderson opens with Woodhouse win
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Gary Anderson is heading back towards the top 10 but mainly based off the Schindler method which is performing well on the floor and European Tour.
But in majors like the German, it's not been a happy hunting ground. He opened up against Luke Woodhouse tonight in an unspectacular display but enough to move through.
Woodhouse started great. He held throw with a 167 on the bull. But despite that Anderson caught alight. He broke to make it 2-2. He held throw with a 52 checkout before he broke once more on double 18 for 4-2.
Woodhouse retorted though with a missed bull for a 125 checkout for 4-3. But Anderson didn't clean up. He missed the bull for 68 and Woodhouse returned for 4-3 and he was suddenly looking at parity.
Gary Anderson through but unspectacular.
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Parity he got with a 12-darter at 4-4. Anderson pinned double 10 to make it 5-4. Woodhouse held throw eventually to make it 5-5. After the break with a 14-dart 68 checkout on double four saw Anderson edge ahead.
Anderson hit double 10 to break to go 7-5 up. Woodhouse missed the bull for an 81 checkout to break back.
Anderson pinned a 93 checkout to go 8-5 up. Anderson hit double 10 to make it 9-5 and finished with a flourish. He pinned 70 on double 20 to seal the win. He also had some choice words about the younger guns afterwards.
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.
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- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
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- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026
- Fair play to Fallon. But...shows the mockery when a professional players wins what was meant to be an amateur v Pro event, Littlers performance was poor, and what about the players who didn't get a game? Would have been better if the pot was split amoungst all the winners and they all got a leg.BandB31-10-2026