Luke Littler arrange a World Darts Championship closing rematch in opposition to Michael van Gerwen on the Dutch Darts Masters, as world No 1 Luke Humphries crashed out within the first spherical.
After beginning 2025 by changing into the youngest world champion within the sport’s historical past, Littler suffered a quarter-final exit by the hands of Gerwyn Value whereas attempting to defend his Bahrain Masters title earlier this month.
Now, he’ll look to go one step additional on the Dutch Darts Masters the place he misplaced 8-6 to Van Gerwen in 2024, and the 2 will meet once more on Saturday evening.
Littler, who turned 18 on Tuesday, was in a battle with ‘The Dreammaker’ Dimitri Van den Bergh which he finally gained 6-4, each breaking one another repeatedly all through.
After an excellent 134 checkout within the second leg from Littler, the decisive second got here when he nailed a 102 checkout for a maintain of throw to maneuver again degree at 4-4 earlier than breaking the throw as soon as once more.
He then wrapped up the competition in some fashion, two maximums setting him up on 51 which he nailed on his favorite D10.
Van Gerwen, in his first exhibiting since his World Darts Championship closing loss in opposition to Littler at Alexandra Palace, received off to begin within the defence of his Dutch Darts Masters title by dominating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in a complete 6-1 victory.
After breaking his opponent to maneuver 3-1 in entrance, Van Gerwen gained 5 legs in a row to cruise by means of to a 14th match up with the reigning world champion. The wins are 7-6 in Littler’s favour, his worlds victory placing him within the lead.
Wattimena, Barney, Doets strike on evening of upsets
Jermaine Wattimena placed on a fast-paced and fiery efficiency to battle again and trigger an upset with a 6-3 win in opposition to world No 1 Humphries.
The 2024 world champion raced right into a 2-0 lead however from there it was all Wattimena, who took 5 unbelievable legs in a row, pinning 153 and 111 checkouts on the way in which.
The Dutchman will now come up in opposition to Rob Cross within the quarter-finals, who bounced again from an early exit in Bahrain with a 6-3 victory over Richard Veenstra, a 100 checkout plus three essential breaks of throw serving to him over the road.
In an evening of upsets, hometown hero Raymond van Barneveld additionally shocked Chris Dobey in a last-leg decider to make it by means of to the quarter-finals.
Raymond van Barneveld was visibly emotional after his large victory
In a tense conflict with ‘Hollywood’ hitting maximums for enjoyable, van Barneveld rallied with the group behind him and took the win in spectacular vogue, pinning a sensational 144 checkout.
Dobey missed a match dart and was punished, the five-time world champion visibly emotional after the victory.
The Dutchman will now face Stephen Bunting, who survived a last-leg shoot-out in opposition to Gian van Veen to win 6-5.
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Highlights of the World Darts Championship semi-final match between Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting
Bunting entered the event on a excessive after choosing up his maiden World Collection title in Bahrain and it confirmed, ‘The Bullet’ discovering the essential break within the sixth leg and averaging over 100.
Van Veen was throwing some high-quality darts too although and after an 11-dart leg to interrupt Bunting again, he took the match all the way in which earlier than Bunting pinned 70 on D16 to wrap issues up.
Kevin Doets additionally made his mark as he cruised previous Nathan Aspinall to make it by means of to Saturday on the Dutch Darts Masters.
Doets, who shocked former world champion Michael Smith on the World Darts Championship, was on fireplace within the contest and with an enormous 138 checkout, 60 % on the doubles, plus three breaks of throw sealed an enormous 6-1 victory.
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Kevin Doets dumped out World No 2 Michael Smith in dramatic vogue of their second spherical conflict on the World Darts Championship
He now faces Gerwyn Value who got here away with a complete 6-2 victory over Danny Noppert, the ‘Iceman’ persevering with his kind from Bahrain with an enormous 124 checkout and 101.85 common to place himself on prime.
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