World Matchplay: Josh Rock overpowered as Luke Littler's defence continues
Josh Rock crashed out of the World Matchplay as Luke Littler stayed on course to defend his title in Blackpool with 16-7 victory to move into the semi-finals.
Double world champion Littler had hit a nine-dart finish in the first leg of his victory over Nathan Aspinall in the last round at the Winter Gardens and took the match away from Rock after the first interval with a dominant display, averaging close to 110.
Rock had broken in the opening leg before Littler responded to take a 3-2 lead, having landed five 180s.
Both men broke throw again after the interval as the match levelled up at 5-5 before Littler won three straight legs on the back of a clinical 108 checkout and then moved 10-5 ahead at the next break.
Littler’s relentless heavy scoring saw him soon close to within one leg of victory, which he took on his favoured double 10 as Rock’s challenge faded out.
“(It was) another brilliant game for myself,” Littler, who hit 17 maximums and landed 53 per cent on his doubles, told Sky Sports. “I have gone 109, 113, 109 again (match averages), so I have just got to keep it going.
“Fair play to Josh, he gave me a really good game there. I think it was the third session where I won all five legs. I kind of got myself into that lead and I just had to stay there and got the job done.”
Littler goes on to face Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, who saw off Gary Anderson 16-13 in the night’s opening match to make the World Matchplay semi-finals for the first time.