Arch-rivals eliminated, Orange party prevented: Darts world champion Luke Littler won the first meeting with Michael van Gerwen since the World Cup final in London. In the Dutchman’s home game, “The Nuke” prevailed 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Dutch Darts Masters after a real rollercoaster ride. A little later, however, the tournament was over for the 18-year-old.
After a decent but by no means outstanding performance, Luke Littler prevailed 6-3 against vice world champion Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals of the Dutch Darts Masters on Saturday. However, with a three-dart average of just 94.5 points and a checkout rate of just 26 percent (6/23), the 18-year-old played anything but world-class.
This also applied to “MvG”, who only recorded an average of 90 points per shot and only hit three of his eight attempts at doubles (37.5 percent).
Littler gets off to a dream start in the World Cup rematch
Despite the manageable level, the fans in Den Bosch were treated to a lot. First and foremost from Littler, who got off to a dream start to the match and quickly took a 3-0 lead. Afterwards, van Gerwen turned up the heat and created a great atmosphere in the hall. The Dutchman, who was cheered on frenetically by the spectators, grabbed three legs in a row and equalized to 3-3.
All hopes of a victory for the vice world champion were quickly dashed. From the seventh leg onwards, nothing went together for van Gerwen. Once again, the world number three lost three legs in a row and with it the game.
Littler fails in the semi-finals against Bunting
In the semi-finals, Littler then faced his compatriot Stephen Bunting. “The Bullet” played the big spoilsport in front of the youngster and eliminated the Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld 6:5 in a dramatic match.
And Littler couldn’t beat Bunting on Saturday either. In the semifinals, “The Bullet” celebrated a narrow 7:6 victory. Although Littler played the better average (107.5:99.5) and had a similarly high double rate (43:50 percent), Bunting was simply a little more accurate in the crucial moments.