World Matchplay 2025: Luke Littler shines with domination of Ryan Searle for first Blackpool win | Darts News

Luke Littler played in a 10-2 victory over Ryan Searle in the first round of the world matchplay in 2025 at the Blackpool winter gardens.

During his beginnings in 2024, Littleler lost against the possible finalist Michael Van Gerwen in the first round, but this time, the reigning world champion meant business because he reserved a competition against Jermaine Wattimena in the second round in fast time.

Posting an average of almost 109, the title favorite took an all-powerful start when he bleached the lime during the opening session for an advance of 5-0, with three launch breaks, a fantastic 126 box and a 121 monster by firmly putting in the driver’s seat.

It was almost an unplayable standard of Littleler. His first five legs were finished in 12, 12, 13, 11 and 14 darts.

The incredible level of Littleler continued during the second session while showing all the facets of his game. Searle managed to give herself a ribbon of hope with a break to wear the match at 8-2.

It was then just a gallop when Littleler finished his very first victory on the scene of the match, sending his message to the competition he is there to play.

“I was in place this evening, I just wanted to get this victory, have this winning feeling and I did it,” said Littler Sky Sports. “I’m so happy to get this victory, to have this winning feeling and I can’t wait to come back.”

“I felt very comfortable, I practiced so much.

“I just took hours and hours. I’m glad it’s paid.

“All eyes are on me now, take the game per game … I can’t wait to come back to the stage.”

In the opening competition of the evening, Gary Anderson Put a full performance to guarantee a 10-5 victory against Luke Woodhouse.

The winner of the 2018 match, Anderson, won four of the first five stages and although Woodhouse found his score power and brought things to 5-5, the Scottish then blitz his opponent and took five legs on the rebound, sealing the dominant victory on the summits.

He will play Stephen Bunting, who scratched with a 10-8 victory against Ryan Joyce.

With the two players far from their game, Bunting managed to find moments with his power score to ensure that the first two sessions were 3-2 in his favor, another break break and four legs on the spin by putting it 8-4 and its average up to 98.

Joyce managed to show a real spirit of struggle to level the game at 8-8, but a break-up gave Bunting the darts for the match, `The Bullet ‘outing D16 to overcome the line.

Elsewhere, Jonny Clayton came for a 10-7 victory in a high quality match against Martin Schindler.

Clayton took a breathtaking start and three breaks of throwing, with a raft from the 180s and an average of almost 112, which led him 4-1 at the first break.

The fifth seeded Clayton continued to limit Schindler’s opportunities as much as possible, but the German continued to play his game and finally obtained his moment to retaliate, a great break to launch the moving 6-4 behind.

Schindler continued to fight with an average fantastic of 103.45 and managed to break to bring the competition at 9-7, but `The Ferret ” finally made the match on D5 to reserve equality in the second round against Mike de Decker.

The seeds sent a break to Blackpool on Sunday afternoon

Sunday afternoon, four seeds were sent from the world matchplay Damon Heta, Rob Cross, Peter Wright And Dave Chisnall All have suffered defeats.

Andrew Gilding Need overtime to win a 12-10 epic competition against the seventh seeded Heta in the opening match of the day, `Goldfinger ” sending almost the winter gardens in a frenzy when it was shortly missing on the D12 in the ninth leg.

Gilding will play Dirk van duijvenbode In the second round after his 6-2 discount to beat the 10th seeded 10-8.

Elsewhere, Jermaine Wattimena Associate the 15th seeded Wright with a 10-8 victory.

The last session match saw the 12th seeded Chisnall losing 10-7 against Belgium Mike de Decker.

Chisnall recovered from a slow start to lead 7-6, only to lose the last four stages of the match, the Belgian winning the competition with a spectacular case of 148.

What is the next step in the world matchplay?

On Monday, July 21, we come back to a single evening session from the Blackpool winter gardens, which you can watch live on Sky Sports Action and Main Event from 7 p.m.

Michael Van Gerwen’s shock with Raymond Van Barneveld does not head the session with Chris Dobey playing Ricardo Pietterczko, Gerwyn Price against Daryl Gurney and Ross Smith Vs Josh Rock.

Watch the matchplay World live on Sky Sports from July 19 to 27 or running without contract.