Luke Littler produced a stunning 11-dart finish to defeat Andrew Gilding and continue his World Matchplay heroics. The world champion booked a semi-final spot and had fans in fits of laughter with viral facial expression. 

Gilding almost produced a stunning comeback to edge out Littler, who briefly opened a five-leg advantage before his opponent soared back. Gilding took three straight legs and pushed the 18-year-old to his very limits. Littler eventually won 16-14 and produced a stunning 11-dart as part of a thrilling finale to an epic contest. 

Littler rose to the challenge of his 54-year-old opponent and even had fans in stitches with one amusing moment. As he attempted to chase Gilding's lead in the 10th leg, Littler furrowed his brow, pouted, screwed up his face, and then pumped his head so that it shook forwards. He then seemed to notice himself in a television out of shot, very quickly returning to a normal expression. 

Darts fans likened the moment to many of Michael van Gerwen's memorable facial expressions. One widely-shared video of the Dutchman sees him pull a face similar to the one Littler made at the Winter Gardens. 

Littler has already produced several remarkable performances in Blackpool. In the last round, he came back from 7-2 down to defeat Jermaine Wattimena in a tiebreak, eventually winning 13-11. 

Afterwards, he declared: "I'm a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it. I've not felt pressure like that since the World Championship. I was a bit nervous but the crowd was unbelievable and it's on to my third game here and I've won two of them."

Littler found those gears again against Gilding. He completed an 11-dart break and then an 14-dart hold just as Goldfinger was getting back into the match. Gilding managed to reduce Littler's lead to just one leg before the teenager finished in style with two 180s. 

"That last leg, I just had to stay focused and get over the line. He won a few on the bounce when I was sat on 15 legs but I just had to do a professional job in the end,” Littler told Sky Sports afterwards.

"I didn't really panic. Andrew started to win a few legs, but that last leg against the darts as well, I just had to get over the line. Andrews does what he does. He never goes out of rhythm. It's the same throw by throw and try and match him."