The World Matchplay always brings big moments, and Luke Littler delivered one in his semifinal against Josh Rock.
Down 6-1 in a race to 17 legs, Littler and Rock produced a perfect leg of darts, with “The Nuke” completing the nine-darter.
The Winter Gardens reacted as you’d expect.
That leg turned the match around for Littler, who advanced to the World Matchplay Final for the first time in his career.
Littler, 18, will meet James “The Machine” Wade in Sunday afternoon’s final (Peacock, 3:15 p.m. ET).
Littler, the reigning World Champion, is a massive -575 favorite over Wade, who is searching for his second World Matchplay and 11th major title.
World Matchplay Final preview: Littler vs. Wade odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| James Wade | +390 |
| Luke Littler | -575 |
Littler has completely changed the landscape of darts. Not only does the 18-year-old boast immense talent, but he’s got an incredible disposition on the big stage.
There’s nowhere to hide in darts, and Littler relishes that side of the sport better than just about anybody we’ve ever seen.
Did we mention he’s only 18?
Wade, 42, is one of the most experienced and accomplished players in the history of the PDC. The former mechanic has won almost everything there is to be won in this sport, and he’s enjoying a bit of a resurgence after a down year in 2024.
This is Wade’s seventh trip to the World Matchplay Final, and the only time he’s lifted the trophy was in 2007, just a few months after Littler was born.
While Littler’s combination of scoring power and ability to close out legs is now unmatched in the sport, Wade is one of the best players in darts at hanging around and hitting his doubles.
In some formats, that would make Wade a dangerous underdog, but in a best-of-35 match, there is plenty of runway for Littler to use his ability to get white hot to put some distance between him and “The Machine.”
Littler’s price is quite short, but bettors can find some value by backing the teenager to win by at least eight legs, which is paying +165 on DraftKings.
The Play: Littler -7.5 legs (+165, DraftKings)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
