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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Jim van Wijk

Luke Littler stays on track to defend UK Open title by beating Gary Anderson

Luke Littler produced another display of power scoring (Liam McBurney/PA) - (PA Wire)

Luke Littler saw off Gary Anderson 10-5 to continue his UK Open title defence and move into the quarter-finals in Minehead.

The two-time world champion had survived a scare to see off Kevin Doets in the fifth round during Saturday’s afternoon session, but raced into a 4-1 lead in his evening match.

Anderson – who beat Martin Schindler to make the sixth-round draw – threatened a rally when he pinched the seventh leg against the darts, but Littler soon hit back to lead 7-3 at the next interval.

Littler maintained his momentum following the restart with more heavy scoring to take the match away from Anderson – who was eventually dispatched when the world number one pinned tops in the 16th leg, finishing with a 101 average.

Former UK Open champion Danny Noppert produced a composed display to see off world number two Luke Humphries 10-6 in the night’s last match on the main stage.

World number four Michael van Gerwen was dumped out by fellow three-time champion James Wade.

Wade averaged over 105 as he raced to a 10-3 victory to reach finals day.

Gerwyn Price joined him there as the two-time runner-up fought back from 9-4 down to beat Ireland’s Keane Barry 10-9.

In the opening match of Saturday’s evening session on the main stage, Josh Rock saw off Stephen Bunting 10-7, edging a tight contest with a match average of just over 93.

On stage two, Premier League leader Jonny Clayton beat Martin Lukeman 10-7, having hit eight maximums, before Rob Cross beat Daryl Gurney 10-6.

World championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle is also out after he slipped to a 10-5 defeat against Krzysztof Ratajski.

In the quarter-final draw, Littler was paired with Dutchman Noppert.

There will be an all-Welsh match between good friends Clayton and Price.

Wade will take on Cross and Poland number one Ratajski faces Northern Irishman Rock, with the tournament played through to a finish on Sunday evening.

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