Luke Littler Battles Past Noppert to Set Up Aspinall Rematch at World Series Finals
Luke Littler Battles Past Noppert to Set Up Aspinall Rematch at World Series Finals
Luke Littler survived a testing encounter with Danny Noppert to reach the last 16 of the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals, setting up a mouth-watering rematch with Nathan Aspinall in Amsterdam.
The reigning World Champion was made to work for his place in round two at AFAS Live on Friday, recovering from 3-1 down to defeat home favourite Noppert 6-4.
Littler was far from his clinical best on the outer ring, converting just 30 per cent of his attempts at double, but produced when it mattered most to keep his bid for a clean sweep of the sport’s Premier televised titles alive.
Noppert made the early running, opening up a 3-1 advantage before Littler finally found his rhythm.
The 2024 champion responded by winning three consecutive legs to turn the match around and move 4-3 ahead.
Noppert refused to go quietly, winning the eighth leg to level the contest, but Littler produced a moment of composure under pressure.
With the match finely poised, the teenager took out 95 with a tops-tops combination before following it up with a brilliant 12-darter to close out the victory.
“Coming back from a losing position to win is always a great feeling,” said Littler, who averaged over 98 despite his struggles on the doubles.
“I’m not putting pressure on myself. I am just focusing on round by round.”
That approach will be tested immediately, with Littler now facing Aspinall in the last 16 in a repeat of their scintillating World Matchplay clash.
Aspinall also advanced with a 6-4 victory, recovering from a slow start against Raymond Smith to reach round two of the World Series Finals for the first time since his runner-up finish in Amsterdam in 2023.
The former World Matchplay champion won four consecutive legs to complete the comeback and set up another huge showdown with Littler.
“Nathan always throws everything at me. He produces his best, I perform at my best, and hopefully it’s another great game tomorrow,” added Littler.
“It would be one of the best darts achievements if I could pull it off [the clean sweep], but it’s still a very long way away.”
Gerwyn Price also booked his place in the last 16 with a commanding 6-4 victory over Australian Darts Masters runner-up Brody Klinge.
The Welshman raced into a 5-0 lead and looked set for a comfortable win, only for Klinge to launch a remarkable four-leg fightback.
The Australian produced two ton-plus checkouts during the revival, but Price held his nerve when it mattered, completing victory with a 14-dart hold.
Price missed just one dart at double throughout the contest and will now meet Canada’s Jim Long.
“I started off well and then dropped off and let Brody back into the game,” admitted Price.
“He took out of a couple of big checkouts which hurt a little bit, so then it was about trying to fall across the winning line.
“We’re going into the back end of the season now and I believe there are some majors that I can win, and some that I’m targeting as well.”
Long produced another impressive comeback to progress, overturning a 4-0 deficit against Adam Leek before surviving a match dart and edging the Australian in a deciding leg.
James Wade was also pushed all the way as the 2018 champion survived a match dart against Damon Heta before edging the Australian number one in a last-leg thriller.
Heta produced five maximums, but it was Wade who held his nerve to book a meeting with Wessel Nijman.
Nijman delighted the home crowd by defeating Australian icon Simon Whitlock 6-4, averaging 98 in an impressive display.
“I didn’t think it was as good as that, but my scoring got me over the line in the end,” said Nijman, who has won eight ranking titles during 2026.
“All the titles I’ve won this year makes everything feel different. It gives you more confidence and I definitely feel more confident coming into this weekend.”
Jonny Clayton also secured his place in round two, defeating Maik Kuivenhoven 6-3 in a scrappy encounter.
The 2021 champion will face Motomu Sakai, who made history by becoming the first Japanese player to compete at the World Series Finals and then edged out Callan Rydz in a deciding-leg shootout.
Sakai had threatened to cruise through after establishing a 4-1 lead, but Rydz fought back to level before the Japanese star held his nerve to complete a memorable victory.
The 2026 World Series of Darts Finals now moves into a blockbuster double session on Saturday, with four last-16 ties taking place in the afternoon before the remaining four clashes are played in the evening.
Dutch number one Gian van Veen and world number two Luke Humphries headline the afternoon session, with Van Veen facing Karel Sedlacek and Humphries taking on fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Then, on Saturday evening, Littler, Price, Wade and Clayton will return to the AFAS Live stage as the battle for a place in Sunday’s quarter-finals intensifies.
Luke Littler Battles Past Noppert to Set Up Aspinall Rematch at World Series Finals
2026 World Series of Darts Finals
Friday September 18
Round One x8
Jim Long 6-5 Adam Leek
Motomu Sakai 6-5 Callan Rydz
Wessel Nijman 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Raymond Smith
James Wade 6-5 Damon Heta
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Brody Klinge
Luke Littler 6-4 Danny Noppert
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Maik Kuivenhoven
Saturday September 19
Afternoon Session (1300 CEST)
Round Two x4
Josh Rock v Ryan Searle
Daryl Gurney v Ross Smith
Gian van Veen v Karel Sedlacek
Luke Humphries v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Best of 19 Legs
Evening Session (1900 CEST)
Round Two x4
Jonny Clayton v Motomu Sakai
Gerwyn Price v Jim Long
James Wade v Wessel Nijman
Luke Littler v Nathan Aspinall
