Luke Littler narrowly avoided a stunning upset at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, holding off a spirited comeback from Andrew Gilding to secure a 16-14 quarter-final victory on Friday evening.
The 18-year-old world champion appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable win at the Winter Gardens, but Gilding's late surge saw him claim five of six legs to close the gap to just one at 15-14.
The dramatic turnaround had the crowd on edge, but Littler maintained his composure in the crucial final leg to book his place in the semi-finals of this prestigious triple crown event.
The match began with Littler establishing dominance, building substantial advantages of 12-8 and subsequently 14-9 as he showcased the scoring prowess that has made him world champion.
PA
|Luke Littler will face Josh Rock in the World Matchplay semi-final
His performance included 18 maximum scores and an impressive average of 103.91, compared to Gilding's 98.45.
However, the 54-year-old veteran refused to surrender, mounting an extraordinary comeback with bull finishes and checkouts exceeding 100.
JUST IN: Lucas Paqueta 'learns his fate' over spot-fixing charges that threaten to end his career
Gilding's persistence saw him win three straight legs, dramatically reducing the deficit from 14-9 to 15-14 and setting up a tense finale that had spectators anticipating a potential decider at 15-15.
The teenager's semi-final opponent will be Northern Ireland's Josh Rock, who produced an impressive display to defeat Welshman Gerwyn Price 16-11 in their quarter-final encounter.
The 24-year-old maintained an average of 104.02 and sealed victory with a spectacular 164 checkout, having previously eliminated three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in the second round.
Rock revealed that Littler is "one of my closest friends behind the scenes" and expressed enthusiasm about their upcoming clash.
"I'm on cloud nine at the minute. What a game," Rock told Sky Sports. "I hope we both turn up. Hopefully it will be a cracking game."
Reflecting on the pressure-filled conclusion, Littler acknowledged the crowd's desire for a deciding leg.
"[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.
READ MORE: MLS suspend Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba after breaking little-known rule
"Ohhhh PLEASEEE" 🤩
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) July 25, 2025
Absolute class from Andrew Gilding and Luke Littler approves 👌 pic.twitter.com/rtkNpWuPvI
"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."
The world champion praised his opponent's consistency, noting: "Andrew never goes out of rhythm, he's the same throw by throw. I just had to find a rhythm to match him."
Saturday evening's semi-finals at the Winter Gardens will see James Wade face Jonny Clayton before Littler takes on Rock.
LATEST SPORT NEWS: