Luke Littler came through two difficult matches to book his maiden UK Open quarter final place on day two at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.

The World Championship finalist saw off both Martin Schindler and Dave Chisnall to become one of the eight players into Finals Day. He plays Damon Heta tomorrow afternoon for a semi final spot. The semis and the final will take place in the evening, with the winner scooping £110,000.

Elsewhere, three former World Champions were among the casualties during Saturday’s double session. Michael Smith lost in a last leg decider to Luke Woodhouse in the afternoon, while former World Cup of Darts winners Gary Anderson and Peter Wright were sent packing in the evening.

The rest of the quarter finals see:

  • Stephen Bunting play Luke Humphries
  • Ricky Evans face Rob Cross
  • Martin Lukeman against Dimitri van den Bergh

It will mean a first time winner of the tournament for the third year in a row, after Danny Noppert’s victory in 2022, and Andrew Gilding’s triumph in 2023. Both men went out in the afternoon session today.

Luke Littler on stage at the 2024 UK Open
Luke Littler is one of the names into the last eight of the 2024 UK Open. Credit: PDC

Littler battles through to play Heta, Humphries takes on Bunting

The Nuke fell behind to Schindler in his afternoon game 5-3, but crucial missed doubles from The Wall, backed up by some big checkouts from the 17 year old including a tide turning 120, saw him eventually win 10-8 in an excellent game.

In the evening session, he averaged 103.38 in a 10-5 victory over Chisnall, getting over the line with an 88 outshot.

The Nuke’s opponent in the last eight is The Heat, who was king of the comebacks on day two. He was 8-4 down to Nathan Aspinall in the afternoon, but won six of the last seven legs to progress in a remarkable game.

The Heat then found himself 7-3 behind to Gian van Veen in the evening session, but again showed incredible resilience, winning seven of the final eight legs to come through 10-8.

World Champion and world number one Luke Humphries enjoyed a safe passage to his second quarter final appearance at this event. He beat Benjamin De Reus 10-3 in the afternoon, before winning 10-4 against Mervyn King. He’ll be looking to win the title for the first time tomorrow, having lost the 2021 final to James Wade.

Luke Humphries celebrates winning a match at the 2024 UK Open
Luke Humphries will be looking to win his first UK Open title, having come second in 2021. Credit: PDC

Cool Hand’s opponent Bunting s part of the quarter final line up for the first time since 2015. He won a topsy turvy game against Kevin Doets, where he went 7-4 up, before going 9-8 behind. Eventually he came through 10-9, which was the same scoreline he beat Peter Wright in the evening session, despite nearly throwing it away when 9-6 up.

Stephen Bunting playing at the 2024 UK Open
Stephen Bunting survived multiple scares to make the last eight. Credit: PDC

Cross faces Evans, Lukeman plays Van den Bergh

Rob Cross made the last eight in Minehead for a second consecutive year with two 10-4 wins. He beat Josh Rock in the last 32, before seeing off Keane Barry on Stage Two in the evening.

Rob Cross playing at the 2024 UK Open
Rob Cross will be looking to go one better than 2019, when he lost the final. Credit: PDC

He will play Ricky Evans tomorrow, who made his first quarter final at the UK Open in impressive fashion.

He scored a comfortable 10-5 win over the inform Mike de Decker this afternoon, and followed it up with a 10-6 victory over Luke Woodhouse to make the final eight. Woodhouse had knocked out 2023 World Champion and former UK Open finalist Michael Smith 10-9 earlier in the day.

Martin Lukeman will contest his second ever televised quarter final on Sunday, beating two former UK Open winners on the way.

First, he battled back from 9-7 down to defeat 2022 champion Danny Noppert 10-9 in round five, before producing a stunning display to see off 2018 winner and two time World Champion Gary Anderson 10-5 in the evening.

Smash’s opponent will be Dimitri Van den Bergh. The Dream Maker made the last four here 12 months ago, and he will be a part of Finals Day for a second straight year.

He saw off Vincent van der Voort 10-6 in the afternoon, and beat Jonny Clayton 10-7 on the Main Stage in the last 16.

Dimitri Van den Bergh on stage at the 2024 UK Open
Dimitri Van den Bergh is part of Finals Day once again. Credit: PDC

UK Open Day Two Results

Evening Session

Round Six

Main Stage

Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-7 Jonny Clayton

Luke Littler 10-5 Dave Chisnall

Luke Humphries 10-4 Mervyn King

Stephen Bunting 10-9 Peter Wright

Stage Two

Ricky Evans 10-6 Luke Woodhouse

Martin Lukeman 10-5 Gary Anderson

Damon Heta 10-8 Gian van Veen

Rob Cross 10-4 Keane Barry

Afternoon Session

Round Five

Main Stage

Gary Anderson 10-5 Chris Dobey

Luke Littler 10-8 Martin Schindler

Damon Heta 10-9 Nathan Aspinall

Luke Humphries 10-3 Benjamin Drue Reus

Stage Two

Jonny Clayton 10-8 Ross Smith

Rob Cross 10-4 Josh Rock

Stephen Bunting 10-9 Kevin Doets

Peter Wright 10-1 Andrew Gilding

Stage Three

Ricky Evans 10-5 Mike De Decker

Luke Woodhouse 10-9 Michael Smith

Dave Chisnall 10-6 Mensur Suljovic

Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-6 Vincent van der Voort

Stage Four

Gian van Veen 10-7 Graham Usher

Martin Lukeman 10-9 Danny Noppert

Keane Barry 10-3 Ryan Meikle

Mervyn King 10-9 Krzysztof Ratajski

UK Open Day Three Schedule of Play

Afternoon Session (12.45 GMT)

Quarter Finals

Stephen Bunting v Luke Humphries

Ricky Evans v Rob Cross

Damon Heta v Luke Littler

Martin Lukeman v Dimitri Van den Bergh

All matches best of 19 legs

Evening Session (19.00 GMT)

2x Semi Finals

Final

All matches first to 11 legs