WARRINGTON’S Luke Littler kept his hopes of joining darts’ elite ‘Triple Crown’ club alive after a hard-fought 16-14 win over veteran Andrew Gilding in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay.
The victory marks Littler’s first-ever semi-final appearance at the prestigious tournament, and he did it in record-breaking style, hitting 18 180s, the most ever recorded in a World Matchplay quarter-final.
Gilding, affectionately nicknamed ‘Goldfinger’, put in a determined performance, but like their clash at the 2024 World Championships, he couldn’t quite match Littler’s firepower.
Their rivalry has always been underpinned by mutual respect. Back at Alexandra Palace nearly two years ago, the pair were even pictured together in the hotel lobby before their match, a moment that reflected their friendly dynamic.
That memory prompted the media to ask Littler whether he still shared a friendly rapport with Gilding or if they ever practised together behind the scenes.
“I don’t think he’s a big talker, Andrew,” Littler replied candidly.
But that’s when the post-match interview took an unexpected turn.
Without being asked directly, Littler decided to fire back, albeit playfully, at comments made earlier in the week by two-time world champion Gary Anderson.
Following his first-round win over Luke Woodhouse, Anderson had hit out at the modern crop of young players, labelling them as dull and unsociable.
“The youngsters are boring, absolutely boring. You talk to them, they’re too busy looking at their phones,” Anderson said.
“They’re sitting on their phones and they’re bloody earphones and don’t talk to you. It’s a completely different life.”
While Anderson didn’t mention Littler by name, the teenage sensation clearly took notice.
“A lot of us players, we got on with our thing and like Gary Anderson said, we’re boring, so that’s what we do,” Littler remarked, with a sly smile.
The line may have been delivered in jest, but there was no mistaking the edge in Littler’s voice – a subtle sign that the new generation isn’t prepared to sit quietly while the old guard criticises their approach.
Report courtesy Sportsboom.com
LITTLER IN CONTROL!
Luke Littler claims a crucial break of throw in leg 20 to stretch his lead over Andrew Gilding to 12-8!
The World Champ is four legs away from a place in the semi-finals!
📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji #MatchplayDarts | QF pic.twitter.com/S1glE27RrJ
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 25, 2025
ANOTHER RECORD FOR LITTLER!
Luke Littler fires in his FIFTEENTH 180 of the contest – a new record in a World Matchplay quarter-final!
📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji #MatchplayDarts | QF pic.twitter.com/DBcB0mZDL6
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 25, 2025
LITTLER WINS A THRILLER! ☢️
What. A. Match! 🔥
Luke Littler produces a brilliant 11-darter to complete a stunning 16-14 victory over Andrew Gilding!
📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji #MatchplayDarts | QF pic.twitter.com/ubnSVgAEIl
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 25, 2025
🗣️ “Personally I don’t know who’s going to win.”
Luke Littler is expecting a fiery match between Gerwyn Pryce and Josh Rock and he doesn’t know who he will end up facing in the semi-final of the Betfred World Matchplay…@OfficialPDC pic.twitter.com/K12Ka6QNtM
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) July 25, 2025
