World Matchplay Tuesday evening session Round-Up | Nine-dart hero Luke Littler hits 113 average to down Aspinall, Van Gerwen falls and Anderson rises
PDCWednesday, 22 July 2026 at 00:29
It was a terrific Tuesday bill at the 2026 World Matchplay and it certainly delivered with Luke Littler hitting yet another nine-dart finish and a 113 average to boot as Nathan Aspinall no doubt will be wondering 'why always me' tonight.
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Gary Anderson also made his way through taking down Jonny Clayton, while also through was Dirk van Duijvenbode who stunned Michael van Gerwen. Josh Rock also took down Stephen Bunting.
To start was Littler who liked alluded to not only hit perfection but he blasted in a 113 average. Littler hit the nine-dart finish in the very first leg and nearly pinned another win missing double 15 for it as he went 3-2 up in the early going.
Aspinall early on coped well with the barrage. Littler hit another 180 and then double 10 for 4-2. Aspinall hit one the next leg and then 48 for 4-3 down. Aspinall though was pegged back as Littler hit 109 for 5-3.
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Aspinall hit double 18 but Littler headed into the interval 6-4 up with a 65 checkout. Both hit 180's in the next leg but double five for Aspinall as he went 6-5 down. Littler was on a nine-darter again but he didn't manage to pin it. He hit double six though for 7-5.
Littler was broken with Aspinall pinning 68 after Littler missed 83. He was at 7-7. Albeit 'The Asp' was 8-7 down having been broken again with Littler pinning double 10 after he missed 128 initially.
Littler held on 82 for 9-7 and was one away as Aspinall was broken once more at 10-7. Aspinall broke with a 170 checkout to make it 10-8. Aspinall missed double 20 to hold and Littler won 11-8 here.
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Van Gerwen downed by Van Duijvenbode
Then onto Van Duijvenbode who saw off Michael van Gerwen in overtime 14-12. To start, Van Gerwen opened with a hold on double eight. He added on double 20 to lead 2-1. But Van Duijvenbode hit 56 before Van Gerwen hit double one for 3-2.
DVD levelled pinning double four for 3-3. Still no breaks though. Finally a break as Van Duijvenbode took MVG's throw. He led 4-3 and was now set to aim to head 5-3 up. A hold with an exquisite 128 from Van Duijvenbode made it 5-3. Van Duijvenbode still held that break so despite a 110 from Van Gerwen, he hit double eight to go 6-4 up.
Van Duijvenbode stuns Van Gerwen.
Dirk hit double 16 for 7-4 to lead once more. He went 8-5 up hitting double 16 for 8-4 before Van Gerwen pinned 68 for 8-5. He held with an 89 checkout albeit Van Gerwen did in fact break back for 8-6 so he was almost back within touching distance.
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Van Duijvenbode broke back on 25 after missing 130 but Van Gerwen saved his skin on 73 for 10-8 down.
Van Gerwen pinned double eight after missing 92 and Van Duijvenbode missed 87. Van Gerwen then has held for double 16 albeit at 10-10 it was tie-break time anyway so he was 11-10 up.
Van Duijvenbode held for 11-11 with a 93 checkout. Van Gerwen hit double 10 for 12-11. Van Gerwen was broken finally as he missed 124 and Van Duijvenbode hit double eight for 13-12. He fell over the line on double 16.
Anderson takes down Clayton
In the opening game, Gary Anderson took down Jonny Clayton 11-7. Clayton held on double 20 to lead and open up.
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Clayton broke. He hit double 12 to go 2-0 up. Clayton held throw with a 105 checkout to make it 3-0. 'The Ferret' held throw and Anderson was all at sea early.
Clayton was 4-1 up holding throw with his classic 121 checkout. Anderson hit back. He broke on double 12 for 4-3. He held from there for a 66 checkout to make it 4-4. He broke and led for 5-4. He pinned double eight.
He hit double 16 for 6-4. Then 41 for 7-5 and then he was 8-6 up with an 80 checkout. He was soon motoring along towards the next round. He broke again with a 64 checkout and was one away at 10-6 up pinning double 10. Anderson's turn around was complete as he sealed an 11-7 win.
Gary Anderson sees off Jonny Clayton.
Josh Rock saw off Stephen Bunting in what was a scrappy end to the night. It was a game full of breaks as Bunting went 2-1 up but Rock came back on double eight for 2-2.
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A 76 checkout from Rock to break for 4-3. Rock broke again with a 106 checkout but back came Bunting with 50 for 6-4 down at the break.
Bunting was broken straight back with a 59 checkout. Rock held with a 35 checkout for 8-4 closing in. Rock went further towards it at 9-5 on double 19 then broke again before sealing the deal. Emphatic without being spectacular.
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