Nine-dart king Luke Littler seals breathtaking Josh Rock comeback, faces brilliant James Wade in World Matchplay final

A nine-darter and a remarkable comeback for Luke Littler as the World Champion is en route potentially to his maiden World Matchplay title. He came from 6-1 down, hit perfection and beat Josh Rock 17-14.

All of this while hitting a 107 average, 15 180's to boot while Rock hit a 104 average and 14 180's in defeat. Littler now faces James Wade tomorrow for the biggest prize of all.

Rock had an utterly dream start to the contest that many would’ve expected Littler to win such is the clamour for the 18-year-old. But he raced into a 5-0 lead winning the opening five legs without reply. He punished five missed darts at double from Littler.

But the best was yet to come in one of the best mini-sessions ever in Blackpool history as Littler nailed the nine-darter but it’s Rock who remained four clear with a 105.5 average and six 180’s. The next session saw the reigning World Champion close the gap to three in the tie as he made it 6-9 and the sting in the tail was to come as The Nuke reeled off five legs on the spin to surge in front 11-9.

From 170 Littler left 40 to go 12-10 up. He pinned double 10. Littler missed the bull for 124. Rock though couldn’t hit a double and Littler picked off 25 to go 13-10 up.

Littler pinned double 20 to make it 14-10. Just as Littler thought he had him though, Rock broke with a 170 checkout for 14-12 to break. Rock hit a superb 120 checkout and was one behind at 14-13. But Littler hit double 20 to make it 15-13. Littler missed 70 for 16-13 and Rock went one behind again with a hold.

Littler was suddenly one away though as despite missing 87, he returned for double 10 eventually for a hold. A break needed for Rock or he was going home. Or in this case an 86 checkout for a break for Littler to win.

The longevity of Wade

While James Wade continued his love affair with the World Matchplay seeing off Jonny Clayton in extra time 20-18 in a superb win for 'The Machine'.

Wade surges into a seventh final after winning in 2007. The former 007 is certainly hoping he can write the wrongs of his loss to Luke Littler at the UK Open where he played excellent all tournament then fell flat in the final.

Wade kicked off the third leg of the contest with a statement going up 2-1 with back-to-back 180’s and sealed it with an 11-darter. Before then piling in a 161 checkout to break throw and move two clear.

Wade was averaging 108 after an incredible start but it was Clayton who went into the break cleaning up 60 to stay in touch and stay on his coattails only for Wade to brush them off as he won three legs on the spin breaking throw again to open up daylight with 6/9 on the doubles. Clayton stopped the rot by sealing leg 10 to reduce the deficit to 7-3.

He made sure that he was in the game with a 161 of his own to make it 8-4 and trail by four. But Wade shut the door. He moved five clear upping his average to 104 and an astonishing 10/16 on the doubles.

Clayton hit an 11-darter and broke with a 120 checkout but the ebbs and flows saw Wade go back ahead with an 84 checkout to go two away at 15-10. But unfortunately for Wade, he was sent to a tie-break. Clayton won a remarkable six legs in a row to drag himself off the floor at the final count.

He made it 16-16 only for Wade to hit another 161 to make it 17-16 but on we went. They both held throw and something needed to give. Clayton missed darts to stay in it and Wade stole a break and the win. Some match.