2025 World Matchplay Darts – Luke Littler vs Jermaine Wattimena
Luke Littler faces Jermaine Wattimena in a high-stakes 2025 World Matchplay second-round clash at the legendary Winter Gardens in Blackpool. We’re backing Luke Littler to Win (1/10), Under 16.5 Total Legs (19/20), and Luke Littler to hit the Most 180s (1/4). A winning £10 treble returns £26.81.
Luke Littler
Luke Littler continues his sensational rise in the sport, arriving at Blackpool as a top seed and pre-tournament favourite. In his first round, Littler produced a statement-making 10–2 demolition of Ryan Searle, recording an outstanding 108.92 three-dart average — the highest of the opening round.
He accounted for five 180s, finished 10 of his 18 legs on doubles, and dominated every key scoring phase. Littler’s return to practice after last year’s surprise first-round exit has seen his finishing and scoring surge to new heights through the Premier League, UK Open final, and now at Winter Gardens.
With his aggressive throw, natural composure, and proven record in big events already this year, Littler looks every bit a contender for the Phil Taylor Trophy.
Jermaine Wattimena
Wattimena, now a seasoned campaigner, advanced after upsetting Peter Wright 10–8 in round one. His performance was solid, if unspectacular: a match average of 91.81, just two 180s, and only 39% on the doubles. While he showed good composure under pressure, closing out the match from 8–8 with back-to-back legs, he benefited from Wright’s missed doubles rather than winning with fireworks.
Wattimena has only once previously reached the World Matchplay last 16 — back in 2019 — and this will be his toughest test so far this season. Against a power scorer like Littler, concerns linger about whether his steady but unspectacular game can keep pace, especially over this demanding format.
Head-to-Head Analysis
While official records show few previous televised meetings between Littler and Wattimena — Littler only broke through at senior PDC level in late 2023 — the contrast is clear: Littler’s matches tend to be high-scoring affairs with flurries of 180s, while Wattimena often relies on consistency rather than surges of heavy scoring.
Recent Pro Tour encounters have seen Littler emerge on top more often than not. That recent trend, coupled with the young Englishman’s relentless upward trajectory, gives him a psychological and statistical edge coming into this second-round contest.
Recent Tournament Matches
In the opening round, Littler posted the standout darts performance of the event so far, sweeping aside Ryan Searle 10–2 in just 12 legs and sending a strong warning to the rest of the field. His legs won at a 4:1 ratio, and his relentless pace allowed little chance for his opponent to settle.
Wattimena dug deep to edge Peter Wright 10–8, recovering from a mid-match slump but never able to build a significant lead. His scoring faded under pressure at times, but he handled the closing exchanges well.
The contrast in performances from round one sets the stage — Littler arrives in ruthless form, while Wattimena is forced to raise his game to compete.
Betting Selections Analysis
Luke Littler – Match Winner (1/10)
Littler’s current form, rising stature, and impressive Blackpool debut make him a heavy odds-on choice. The opening round average of nearly 109 underscored his credentials, and he shows both the scoring and mental resilience required to dispatch opponents in TV majors. With proven consistency at all scoring phases and a clear statistical edge over Wattimena, Littler looks all but certain to progress to the quarterfinals barring a major shock.
Under 16.5 Total Legs (19/20)
The second round is scheduled for best of 21 legs (one player needing 11 to win, and must win by two clear legs, with provision for sudden death only if required). Littler’s first round match lasted only 12 legs and all evidence suggests a similarly dominant win is on the cards.
For Wattimena to push this beyond 16 legs, he would likely need seven or more legs himself, something he’s rarely achieved against elite opposition on TV. Unless Wattimena produces something special, this looks primed for a straightforward Littler win well inside the quoted line.
Luke Littler – Most 180s (1/4)
Littler’s five 180s in the opening round indicate his heavy scoring is in full effect, and his yearly statistics see him averaging more maximums per leg than most players in the world. Wattimena, meanwhile, scored just two against Peter Wright and hasn’t been among the division’s top 180 hitters this year. If Littler settles early with his regular rapid rhythm, he should post a significant maximums tally and win this market with room to spare.
Conclusion and Summary
Combining all three selections, the story is clear: Littler is in his best form, thriving on the Blackpool stage, and built to sweep aside an inconsistent and less powerful Wattimena. The odds illustrate the chasm between their recent levels.
Possible risks? Wattimena would need to lift his game dramatically or Littler would have to suffer an unexpected dip. But, based on both the numbers and the narrative, all signs point towards a Littler win inside 16.5 legs, with the teenager’s power scoring comfortably outstripping the Dutchman.
You always get the impression with Luke that he plays better when he has a point to make. I still think he is stinging from his early exit last year.
This treble offers both safety and value for fans expecting a dominant Littler display on Wednesday night, a winning £10 treble returns £26.81, a profit of £16.81 plus your original stake.
For more insights and predictions, explore our darts predictions in our betting tips section.
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