Luke Littler reached the quarter-finals of the Players Championship Finals with a 10-6 win over Ricardo Pietreczko on Saturday night.
The new world No 1 averaged 102.67 in a scrappy, back-and-forth contest in which he was pegged at 5-5 before winning four of the next five legs. Littler sealed victory with a stunning 121 finish, helped by two bullseyes, and now remains on course to add this title to his growing list of major successes.
“I’m never happy when I’m losing,” Littler told ITV4. “At 3-2 down I then got it back to 5-all and I just had to kick on there. I knew there were no more breaks, we were on (stage) until the end and I managed to get the job done. I was not the best on my doubles tonight, but I can sharpen up on them again tomorrow afternoon.”
Round Three results — Main Stage
– Gerwyn Price 10-6 Martin Schindler
– Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Danny Noppert
– Luke Littler 10-6 Ricardo Pietreczko
– Josh Rock 10-8 Krzysztof Ratajski
Stage Two
– Daryl Gurney 10-9 Adam Lipscombe
– James Wade 10-6 Andrew Gilding
– Jermaine Wattimena 10-8 Ryan Searle
– Chris Dobey 10-5 James Hurrell
Littler will meet Chris Dobey in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals. “This is one I have not won, everyone does know that. I am definitely chasing for it tomorrow,” he added.
Earlier in the tournament Littler averaged 107 in a 6-3 win over Ross Smith, striking four 180s and a 157 from Smith and a high checkout of 121 on his way to the last 16.
Pietreczko reached this round after a 6-5 victory over Gary Anderson, with a 116 checkout in the decider. Anderson, 54, played despite illness and admitted his form is uncertain ahead of the World Championship, saying darts has taken a back seat to other issues right now.
Daryl Gurney, the 2018 champion, survived 10 match darts from qualifier Adam Lipscombe and hit an 11-darter in the deciding leg to prevail 10-9. Gurney now faces Gerwyn Price, who recovered from a slow start to produce a huge 161 checkout and win six of the final seven legs in a 10-6 win over Martin Schindler. Price warned he is preparing for a physical battle with Gurney after their heated exchange at the World Matchplay in July. “I’ve got my boxing gloves packed I am ready for him,” said the world No 10.
Only one former champion remains in the field after Peter Wright, winner in 2021, lost 6-4 to James Wade. Wright — who had earlier recorded his first TV win since January’s World Masters — insisted he isn’t finished despite doubters: “I love proving people wrong. A lot of people said I should give up… inside here, I ain’t finished yet.”
Josh Rock produced a dominant 6-0 demolition of Scott Williams, averaging north of 107 with four ton-plus finishes, and despite almost surrendering an 8-2 lead against Krzysztof Ratajski he held on for a 10-8 win to set up a quarter-final with Nathan Aspinall. Aspinall edged Danny Noppert 10-8, with both players hitting six 180s.
Sunday schedule (Minehead)
Afternoon session (12.45pm) — Quarter-finals, first to 10 legs:
– Gerwyn Price vs Daryl Gurney
– Luke Littler vs Chris Dobey
– Nathan Aspinall vs Josh Rock
– James Wade vs Jermaine Wattimena
Evening session (7pm) — Semi-finals, first to 11 legs:
– Price/Gurney vs Littler/Dobey
– Aspinall/Rock vs Wade/Wattimena
Winmau World Youth Championship Final (around 9pm) — first to 6 legs:
– Beau Greaves vs Gian van Veen
Gian van Veen, who had beaten defending champion Luke Humphries in round one, lost a dramatic 6-5 decision to Krzysztof Ratajski after squandering a 5-3 lead and two match darts. Van Veen said he was focused on his upcoming World Youth final against Beau Greaves.
Round Two results — Main Stage
– Daryl Gurney 6-4 Stephen Bunting
– James Wade 6-4 Peter Wright
– Nathan Aspinall 6-0 Richard Veenstra
– Gerwyn Price 6-1 Sebastian Bialecki
– Luke Littler 6-3 Ross Smith
– Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Gian van Veen
– Josh Rock 6-0 Scott Williams
– Danny Noppert 6-1 Madars Razma
Stage Two
– James Hurrell 6-1 Luke Woodhouse
– Adam Lipscombe 6-2 Bradley Brooks
– Ryan Searle 6-5 Callan Rydz
– Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Ryan Joyce
– Martin Schindler 6-4 Nick Kenny
– Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Gary Anderson
– Andrew Gilding 6-5 Justin Hood
– Chris Dobey 6-5 Cam Crabtree
Simon Whitlock secures World Championship spot
Simon Whitlock will return to the Paddy Power World Darts Championship after winning the 2025 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League in Brisbane. Whitlock beat Raymond Smith 10-7 in the final at Nissan Arena, earning $30,000 and qualification for Alexandra Palace next month. Emotional after the win, Whitlock reflected on restoring his place at the World Championship after missing out last year.
Players to qualify for the World Darts Championship (listed in article)
– Michael van Gerwen
– James Wade
– Gary Anderson
– Peter Wright
– Raymond van Barneveld
– Brendan Dolan
– Mensur Suljovic
– Mervyn King
– Simon Whitlock (new)
Whitlock said: “This gets me into the World Championship now and that gives me a lifeline to do some other things as well. It’s been a real struggle… Just getting back in the World Championship, that’s a lot for me and this means the world.”
Sky Sports noted it will continue to broadcast the Premier League, World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championship.