Luke Littler enters the Blackpool tournament as the second seed.
World champion Luke Littler secured a comfortable 10-2 victory over Ryan Searle, advancing to the second round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
Following a first-round exit at the Winter Gardens last year to Michael van Gerwen, the 18-year-old was determined to make amends in this year’s tournament.
Littler proved too strong for Searle from the outset, winning the first four legs with just 48 darts. He concluded the match with an impressive average of 108.92 and a 52.6% checkout rate.
The world number 19 struggled to counter Littler’s dominant performance, avoiding the same fate as world number one Luke Humphries, who was defeated in his opening match on Saturday.
“I felt very comfortable out there,” Littler told Sky Sports. “I was well up for tonight and I’m just so glad to get that win and that winning feeling.
“As people know, I’m not a practiser, but I’ve been practising for this one and putting in more time at home. I’m glad it has paid off and I can’t wait to come back for the next game.”
Littler will face Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena in the last 16, following Wattimena’s 10-8 victory over 2021 champion Peter Wright.
In other results, 2019 winner Rob Cross was defeated 10-8 by Dirk van Duijvenbode, while 2018 champion Gary Anderson advanced with a 10-5 win over Luke Woodhouse.
Fourth seed Stephen Bunting and fifth seed Jonny Clayton also secured victories, though both faced challenges from their respective opponents.
Bunting initially led Ryan Joyce 8-4 but was pegged back to 8-8 before regaining composure to win 10-8, setting up a match against Anderson.
Clayton overcame Martin Schindler with a 10-7 victory, despite averaging lower than his German opponent – 99.60 compared to 103.45.
“I am here, I want to win this tournament,” said the Welshman. “Hopefully it is going to be my week. I love it when I pass the first round.”
World Matchplay Darts schedule, draw and prize money