StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

LUKE LITTLER READY TO FINALLY CLAIM HIS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY NOW

Luke Littler battles past Ricardo Pietreczko 10-6 to reach the Players Championship Finals quarter-finals. The world number one recovers from a slow start in Minehead as he chases another major title.

Luke Littler Ready To Finally Claim His Players Championship Glory Now
He Is On Target To Grab The Championship Trophy

Luke Littler, the world's top-ranked player, rallied after an unsteady beginning to defeat Ricardo Pietreczko 10-6, securing his place in the quarter-finals of the Players Championship Finals held in Minehead.

Having recently surpassed competitor Luke Humphries in the rankings following his triumph at last week's Grand Slam of Darts, Littler earlier overcame Ross Smith 6-3 in the afternoon session, boasting an impressive match average of 102.

The 18-year-old continued to gain momentum against Pietreczko from Germany, who had narrowly defeated Gary Anderson in a tense final leg. Littler rebounded from a 3-1 deficit, taking command with an 8-5 lead after executing a remarkable 121 finish that featured two hits on the bullseye.

With determination to reach the quarter-finals, Littler maintained a 102 average despite his initial struggle and is focused on capturing another title—one that has eluded him thus far.

“Of course, I'm not pleased when I find myself losing. When it was 3-2 against me, I managed to level it at 5-5, and I knew I had to push forward from there,” Littler noted during his interview on ITV4.

“I realised there wouldn't be any more breaks; we were onstage until the end, and I succeeded in completing the task. My doubles weren't at their best tonight, but I plan to refine that aspect for tomorrow's session.”

“I am indeed pursuing this title—everyone is aware of that. It’s one that I have yet to add to my collection, and I will definitely be going after it tomorrow,” Littler concluded.

Gerwyn Price, the tournament's top seed due to his outstanding performances throughout the 34 Players Championship events this year, also advanced by overcoming Martin Schindler 10-6, setting him up for a match on Sunday, when the tournament will conclude.

In another exciting match, Nathan Aspinall edged past Dutch player Danny Noppert 10-8, with both athletes scoring six 180s.

Off the main stage at Butlin’s, Daryl Gurney—who had previously defeated Stephen Bunting earlier in the day—won against Adam Lipscombe in a final leg, securing his spot in the quarter-finals, where he will face Price.

James Wade continued his success after defeating former world champion Peter Wright by achieving a 10-6 win against Andrew Gilding.

Furthermore, Jermaine Wattimena from the Netherlands triumphed over Ryan Searle with a score of 10-8, marking his first advancement to the tournament's quarter-finals.

KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND

Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.

top-news
Kendrick Bourne tops the list of receivers San Francisco wants to retain

Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.

Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.

Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.

He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”

This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.

Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.

So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.

MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING

Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.

top-news
Warriors star to undergo new MRI as knee pain lingers

The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.

Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.

Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.

So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.

If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.

LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.

Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News