World champion Luke Littler hit a sensational 152 checkout in the deciding leg of a thrilling World Grand Prix quarter-final against Gerwyn Price to reach the last four in Leicester.
That wonderful finish capped the 18-year-old’s fightback from two sets down against 2020 World Grand Prix winner Price, who missed three match darts at doubles in the fourth set.
Littler had seemed poised for victory in the final set before Price took out an incredible 156 finish to send the match into a sudden-death leg, in which the Welshman had the advantage of throwing first.
Both players struggled to find an opening double in the decider and neither scored heavily, until the English teenager’s moment of magic finished the match.
After Littler found double 16 to complete his memorable win, former world champion Price smiled and applauded from the back of the stage before the pair shared a warm embrace.
“[The crowd] got their money’s worth. I think they wanted 15-all but that last leg, I just had to stay focused,” he told Sky Sports.
“I didn’t really panic. Leg by leg, Andrew started to win a few on the trot, but on the last leg, against the darts, I just had to get over the line.
“He played his part, it’s very tough. Andrew never goes out of rhythm, he’s the same throw by throw. I just had to find a rhythm to match him.”
Littler teased there would be “fireworks” in the fourth quarter-final and Rock delivered.
Both the 24-year-old (104.02) and Price (100.21) averaged above 100, but it was Rock who seized the moment, winning three consecutive legs to open up an 11-8 lead and then extending his advantage to 13-9.
Price rallied to make it 13-11, but Rock – who beat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in round two – closed out the match in style, winning the last three legs and producing a checkout of 164 in the final one.
“I’m on cloud nine at the minute. What a game,” Rock told on Sky Sports.
“I was just like, ‘Josh, you’re doing nothing wrong, you’re playing your own game, happy days’. The form Gerwyn’s in, you know what to expect.
“Littler’s one of my closest friends behind the scenes. I hope we both turn up. Hopefully it will be a cracking game.”
Josh Rock burst into tears on stage after Northern Ireland won a dramatic World Cup last leg decider.
His team partner Daryl Gurney hit double eight to wrap up an epic 10-9 win over Wales in the final in Frankfurt last night (Sunday).
Rock, 24, and Gurney then dropped to their knees on stage in scenes of incredible emotion as they picked up their first world titles and an £80,000 jackpot.
He said: “When we said we are paired together we’ll win it. We didn’t expect to do it, but we did it.
“As a team we were fantastic. We fought hard all the way through.”
Credit: Getty
Debut fizzles out for Dutchman
Gian van Veen had a great tournament personally but could not take his team all the way to the trophy.
The disappointment will be raw right now but when he reflects on it, there is a lot he can learn from it.
It should give him the confidence that if he is on his game, he cann beat anyone on the darts circuit right now.
Credit: Getty
Making a country proud
Northern Ireland have produced plenty of good darts players over the years but winning a World Cup requires something very different.
They came into this tournament as fourth seeds, full of talent, but unable to produce it enough with the regularity needed to win titles.
Both players put the comments of the doubters to one side and produced the best darts of their careers in Germany.
This victory is something special and this pair will be partying long into the night, something they have surely earned this weekend.
In every round of the competition, the match-ups are played as one-off doubles matches, and Clayton believes his and Price’s rugby experiences gives them an edge.
“We go out as a team, and I think the rugby background helps,” said Clayton.
“We’ve played in team games before, and I know rugby is completely different to darts, but it is the team mentality.
“We believe in each other and you have to believe in your team-mate.”
While both Clayton and Price have Welsh aspects to their standard darts jersey, ‘The Ferret’ says there is something special about representing the country at the World Cup.
“There’s no better feeling than representing Wales,” added Clayton.
“Being a Welshman, I’m so proud when I put that jersey on.
“No matter what sport you play, if you can represent your country there is no better feeling.”
He’s been the winner of seven major PDC titles – but admits as time goes on, he may be forced to pick and choose events.
Gerwyn Price reveals darts rival who rattled him most and it led to awkward moment on stage
The Iceman continued: “I would never give up totally.
“But the Pro Tours and Europeans, depending on how many it’s going to be at that time, because it’s getting more and more every year, but I’ll stop doing those.
“I would never give my Tour Card up. I’d still do events and if they invite me to the Premier League and World Series, I’ll still do them.
“But none of the lower events and just stop the travelling.”
Darts’ hectic pro schedule has become a major talking point among the sport’s elite.
Nathan Aspinall recently branded the calendar “absolutely obscene”.
The Asp fumed: “For us to take a weekend off, I have to pull out events.
“So I’m losing ranking money because I just need a few days off.
“And I’ve done that over the last couple of weeks because I was in a tight position in the Premier League, I really wanted to make the playoffs.”
A Littler hold of throw as the break came at the right time for Littler – he’s won four of the five legs since!
That one sees him miss D12 for an 84 checkout but Price isn’t on a finish to punish, leaving Littler the chance to come back for D6 and takes it.
Luke Littler 7-7 Gerwyn Price*
Another BREAK of throw as Littler brings the match back level again!
He could’ve wrapped it up early, missing a dart at D16 for a superb 143 checkout. Price can’t take out 160, leaving Littler to come back for D16 and he takes it with his second dart.
Reminder, it’s first to 10. No margin for error from here.
*Luke Littler 6-7 Gerwyn Price
Ohh what a dart from Gerwyn Price to BREAK the Littler throw once more!
Price had a dart on the floor in his set-up too and Littler leaves 40 to put the pressure on the 86 Price did eventually leave.
Single 18, T18 leaves D7 and he finds it superbly!
Luke Littler 6-6 Gerwyn Price*
It looked a monumental leg and Littler BREAKS Price for it!
Back all-square as Price misses a dart at D10 for a 100 checkout, instead busting his score going into D15.
Price gets another go at it but can’t leave a finish this time as Littler misses a dart at tops this time. But he comes back for 20 and hits 10, D5 to bring us back level.
*Luke Littler 5-6 Gerwyn Price
Bloomin’ heck, he’s coming out swinging, Littler!
He misses a dart at D20 for a 10-dart hold of throw before pinning it next time for a good 11-dart leg.
That included a 180 and 147 set-up to leave 40. Maybe a sign of this second half….
Price leads at the break
Given Littler had the darts in leg one, Price will be absolutely thrilled to take a 6-4 lead into the break.
But in truth, it could and probably SHOULD be more comfortable.
Littler hasn’t got going yet and the frustration is etched across his face, even before storming off stage when Price took out the 40 in leg 10.
Price is leading the 180 count 3-1, more 140s, better checkout success and highest checkout!
