Littler Stages Stunning Fightback to Reach Grand Slam Semi-Finals To Set A Date with Noppert

Luke Littler’s quest to retain the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts crown remained alive on Saturday night, after the teenage sensation produced another extraordinary comeback to defeat Josh Rock and book a semi-final meeting with Danny Noppert in Wolverhampton.

The defending champion was joined in the final four by Noppert, who brushed aside Lukas Wenig, completing a high-calibre semi-final line-up that already featured Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price following their wins on Friday.

Littler, unbeaten in all 12 of his career matches on the Grand Slam stage, was forced to dig deep in his quarter-final encounter with Rock. The 17-year-old trailed 9–6 at one stage before unleashing a spectacular burst of form to win seven consecutive legs and seize control of the contest.

Rock began the match in blistering fashion, firing in three 12-darters to assert early dominance. He maintained his momentum through the middle stages, producing an incredible spell where he averaged 110 and looked set to end Littler’s title defence.

However, the reigning World Champion once again demonstrated the resilience that has defined his short but glittering career. He began his fightback with a flurry of combination checkouts — 74, 71, 90, 96 and 81 — to turn the match on its head and roar into the lead.

Rock briefly halted the onslaught with an 11-darter to close to 13–11, and both players then traded 12-dart finishes on the bull in a breathtaking display of scoring and precision. But Littler was not to be denied. The teenager produced another 11-dart leg to break throw and move to the brink of victory, sealing a 16–12 triumph moments later with his trademark double ten.

“I slowed my throw down and that really helped with the timing of my shots,” Littler explained afterwards. “I was giving myself absolute hell at 9–6 down, but then I came back on and won the next five and went into the lead, and I couldn’t ask for anything better. Me and Josh always bring the best out of each other. It’s another game and another win and I’m still unbeaten here.”

The World Champion also acknowledged what’s at stake this weekend beyond the title itself. “I know I need to win one more game to become the world number one,” he said. “But I need to get past Danny tomorrow afternoon, which will be a difficult game.”

Earlier in the evening, Danny Noppert earned his semi-final place with a dominant 16–8 victory over German debutant Lukas Wenig. The 33-year-old Dutchman, a former UK Open champion, was clinical throughout, finishing at key moments to keep his opponent at arm’s length.

Wenig made a bright start with a brilliant 130 checkout on the bull, but Noppert responded by reeling off a trio of 76 finishes to steady himself. He then produced back-to-back 116 and 140 combinations to establish a 6–4 lead.

From there, Noppert shifted into top gear. He rattled off five straight legs to move 11–4 ahead, before Wenig stopped the run with a crowd-pleasing 170 checkout. Yet the German’s resistance proved short-lived — Noppert added another four-leg burst to move within touching distance of victory. Despite Wenig producing further moments of class with 104 and 129 checkouts, the Dutchman held firm to cross the line and secure his fifth televised semi-final appearance of the season.

“I’m really happy. I’m in the semi-final of the Grand Slam,” said Noppert. “I was dreaming about it all the time and now I did it. This was not my best game of course, but I’m really proud to be in the semi-finals. I think I’m in the best form of my life and I always believe in myself, so I’m really pleased with everything.”

The Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts now moves into its final day on Sunday, with a double session to determine the 2025 champion. The afternoon session will feature a mouth-watering semi-final between world number one Luke Humphries and three-time winner Gerwyn Price, a rivalry that has produced several classics over the past year.

Then, reigning champion Littler will take to the stage to face Dutch number three Noppert, as the teenager chases both the Eric Bristow Trophy and the world number one ranking. The winners will meet in the evening’s grand finale at WV Active Aldersley, where the £120,000 top prize and the honour of Grand Slam glory await.

Littler Stages Stunning Fightback to Reach Grand Slam Semi-Finals To Set A Date with Noppert 

2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Saturday November 15

2x Quarter-Finals

Danny Noppert 16-8 Lukas Wenig

Luke Littler 16-12 Josh Rock

Sunday November 16

Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)

Semi-Finals

Luke Humphries v Gerwyn Price

Luke Littler v Danny Noppert

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

Final

Humphries/Price v Littler/Noppert

All matches best of 31 legs