Luke Littler has produced an extraordinary fightback to defeat Jermaine Wattimena in a pulsating darts encounter at the Matchplay.
The world champion found himself trailing 7-3 after Wattimena had broken his throw on multiple occasions during a dominant opening spell.
What followed was one of the most dramatic turnarounds witnessed on the Matchplay stage.
Littler reeled off six consecutive legs to draw level at 8-8, transforming the atmosphere in the venue as spectators witnessed an incredible momentum shift.
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Luke Littler fought from four legs down to win the match
The match ultimately went down to the wire, with Littler squandering several opportunities to seal victory before eventually closing out the contest in a nerve-shredding finale.
Wattimena seized control from the opening leg, breaking Littler’s throw after the world champion squandered multiple opportunities at double.
The Dutchman capitalised when Littler missed attempts at doubles 8, 4, 2 and 1, eventually pinning double 4 to snatch the leg.
The momentum continued as Wattimena doubled his advantage with a commanding second leg. A maximum 180 from 261 left him requiring 81, which he dispatched confidently whilst Littler languished on 245.
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Jermaine Wattimena put in an incredible performance to push Luke Littler all the way
The tide turned dramatically when Littler finally secured a leg before the interval, firing in a 180 followed by a 140 to establish control. He finished with consecutive double 20s to reduce the deficit to 7-4.
Upon resumption, Littler began his remarkable surge. He capitalised on Wattimena’s missed doubles to hold throw, then produced a stunning sequence of scoring to close the gap further.
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The world champion’s revival gathered pace as he strung together six successive legs. A spectacular 12-dart leg featuring a 180 opener and a 120 checkout sent the crowd into raptures as he completed the comeback to level at 8-8.
The tension escalated as both players traded holds, with Wattimena demonstrating remarkable resilience to stay in contention. Littler created multiple opportunities to secure victory, missing a dart at double 19 for a 114 checkout that would have sealed the match.
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Luke Littler had to motivate himself after a poor first half of the match
The drama intensified when Littler squandered two further match darts at tops and double 10. Wattimena himself had a chance at a Shanghai finish but eventually took out double 10 to prolong the contest.
Littler finally found his range in the decisive leg, launching two maximum 180s in his opening and third visits. He established an insurmountable lead, leaving 41 after just nine darts and converting the finish whilst Wattimena remained stranded without a checkout opportunity.
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