Luke Littler began his title defence at the 2026 World Matchplay with a 10-6 victory over Niko Springer on Saturday evening at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. The scoreline is clear-cut, but the real takeaway lies in the closing stages of the match: the world number one finished with an average of 109.53 and will face Nathan Aspinall in the second round.
That’s where things start to get tough. Springer held his own until 5-5, long enough to create a bit of tension in this first-round match. Then Littler changed gear, winning his final four legs in 11 darts. For a defending champion who is expected to dominate everywhere, this is exactly the sort of start that counts: not perfect from the first leg to the last, but ruthless when it came to closing out the match.
World Matchplay 2026: Littler steps up a gear at just the right moment
The PDC is hailing this victory as the start of Littler’s quest for a double, having already won the Phil Taylor Trophy in 2025. The young Englishman could become the fourth player to retain the World Matchplay title, and his opening match served as a reminder of why the entire draw is keeping a close eye on him.
According to figures cited by Sky Sports, Littler even averaged over 123 across the final six legs. Put another way: Springer wasn’t just left behind; he hit a rough patch at the worst possible moment. The German debutant had, however, put up a good fight, notably levelling the match before the second interval. But in this long-format event, holding on for ten legs isn’t always enough. You also have to survive the moment when the favourite steps it up a gear.
Littler admitted after the match that he’d been frustrated not to be leading at the second interval, before finding a different rhythm. For us, that’s the key takeaway from the evening: he didn’t need a flawless match to send out a warning. Above all, he showed that he can break an opponent in a matter of minutes when he’s on form.
Aspinall comes into the match on the back of a strong performance
The second-round match against Nathan Aspinall will carry more weight than a standard draw line. Aspinall beat Joe Cullen 10–5 with an average of 105.32, a 167 checkout and a very composed performance at crucial moments. Here too, the score tells one thing, but the match reveals a little more: Aspinall didn’t just win; he earned the right to face Littler with a strong case to make.
The clash is also intriguing because it pits the defending champion against the 2023 Blackpool champion. Following our pre-tournament analysis of the World Matchplay, this opening night already confirms that the top half of the draw won’t wait until the quarter-finals to heat up.
Bunting scrapes through, Rock progresses without shining
The other match that caused a stir this evening was Stephen Bunting’s victory over Niels Zonneveld. Bunting led 8–5, seemed to be in control, but then had to survive three match darts before winning 13–12. Zonneveld recorded two ten-dart legs and a 164 checkout to fight his way back, but he let his chance slip at 11-9. Bunting responded with a crucial 118 checkout, then eventually broke serve in the deciding leg.
That sort of sequence rarely leaves anything to chance. Bunting didn’t have everything under control, but he held his nerve when the match threatened to slip away from him. His next fixture against Josh Rock will be a real test, especially given the standard Rock is capable of producing in Blackpool.
Rock, incidentally, got the job done against Luke Woodhouse, winning 10-4 without ever looking as though he’d let up. His average remained below 91, but he converted 52 per cent of his doubles and capitalised on the twenty double misses by Woodhouse. Not a masterclass, then, but a clean qualification in a first round where the main pitfall was dragging things out.
Saturday’s results in Blackpool
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse | 10–4 |
| Stephen Bunting v Niels Zonneveld | 13–12 |
| Luke Littler v Niko Springer | 10–6 |
| Nathan Aspinall v Joe Cullen | 10-5 |
More action is coming soon: on Sunday, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, James Wade, Jonny Clayton, Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman will all be entering the tournament. But the tone has already been set. Littler didn’t just get through the first round; he reminded everyone that his title to defend remains the main focus of this week in Blackpool.
Sources: PDC, Sky Sports and Sporting News.
