Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) with highly effective reperfusion devices is beneficial for: 1) relatively broadly selected acute ischaemic stroke patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusions (LVOs) who have failed or are ineligible for intravenous fibrinolysis, up to 7 h after onset; and 2) imaging-selected patients with a favorable penumbral profile (small core and substantial salvageable tissue) 6–24h after onset. Among early-presenting patients, benefit is strongly time-dependent; for every 4 m delay in door-to-reperfusion time, 1 of every 100 patients has a worse disability outcome. Based on the trial evidence, EVT is strongly endorsed by guidelines worldwide. Within the first 7h, benefit is evident in patients under and over age 80, and in patients with up to moderate early ischaemic changes on imaging (ASPECTS 6-10). Systems of care should be optimized to deliver likely LVO patients to endovascular-capable stroke centers, and for procedure start (arterial puncture) within 75m, and optimally within 45m, after ED arrival. Large-scale trials are testing: best prehospital recognition and routing protocols: novel device designs to increase reperfusion rates in large and also medium vessel occlusions; bridging neuroprotection and collateral enhancement; potential benefit in patients with large cores; and best concomitant therapies, including sedation mode and post-procedure blood pressure management.