Luke Littler cruises into the quarter-final, as Rock, Wenig and Noppert win thrillers

Defending champion Luke Littler provided the crowd in Wolverhampton with a superb display in night two of the second-round matches. Play was opened by German duo, Lukas Wenig and Niko Springer going head-to-head, with Josh Rock and Michael Van Gerwen looking to reach the next stage against challenging opposition.

Lukas Wenig triumphs in the all-German opener

The opening game of the second night of the knockout stages in Wolverhampton, brought an all-German affair to the stage. World number 71, Lukas Wenig, took on world number 53, Niko Springer, at the WV Active Aldersey.

Wenig came into the match having topped group H in the earlier stages, taking down Jonny Clayton and Cameron Crabtree in the process. Springer finished second in group G, however, was not shy of any form, having beaten three-time grand slam winner, Michael Van Gerwen and veteran, Gary Anderson, in his group stage ties. Despite having a lower average in both games, the 25-year-old showed grit and determination to overcome two world-class players, showcasing his match-winning ability.

Meenzer Bub controlled the first leg, hitting an early maximum with just his second visit to the oche. Leaving himself tops after 12 darts, Springer just slipped under the target before checking out on double 10 to hold his throw inside 15 darts. Wenig showed he was there to challenge, hitting a 174 to provide some pressure on his German counterpart.

The group H qualifier showed no sign of slowing down, striking another maximum in the second leg to break Wenig’s throw, courtesy of his incredible power scoring. However, Luu bounced back from the early set back, producing some impressive scoring of his own. The world number 69 returned the favour to Springer, breaking throw before holding his own to bring the match back to level pegging.

But not for long. Springer showed resilience of his own to hold his throw in the fifth leg, going into the first break with a 3-2 lead, both players averaging high in the nineties.

The German pair came out firing after the interval, going on to strike 12 combined scores of 140 plus in the following five legs. Springer again looked to have taken control of the match, putting a two-leg gap between himself and Wenig. Yet the latter struck back once again, winning consecutive legs to level the score at 5-5 going into the second break.

This incredible battle continued in the final session of this German clash, with the power scoring continuing through the entirety of the eighteen legs. With the match in the balance at seven legs each, Lukas Wenig found another level to his game, displaying pivotal consistency to take three legs on the bounce, leaving himself one leg away from a serious upset.

Niko Springer continued to battle hard, releasing a significant celebration after checking out to keep himself in the tie. However, the underdog remained calm to cruise through the final leg and book his place in the quarterfinals.

Josh Rock narrowly avoids a crumble against long shot Connor Scutt

Match two brought Josh Rock and Connor Scutt into the limelight in Wolverhampton. The pair had met six times in the past three years, with Rocky coming out victor in each match.

Connor Scutt displayed his ability in the group stages also, battling hard to beat Karel Sedlacek and Daryl Gurney, resulting in a spot in the knockout stages against another Norther Irishman in Josh Rock.

Rock has a successful group stage campaign leading into the knockout stages, comfortably beating the imposing Dutch youngster, Gian Van Veen, and Lisa Ashton on his way to topping group F.

Rocky exploded out of the blocks, taking the first three legs in succession, leaving The Sniper looking down the barrel of another difficult match against the world number 10. However, when Rock missed a game dart at double four, Scutt pulled the trigger to get back into the match. Two legs on the bounce saw the Englishman get a foothold in the match at the first break.

Returning from the break, Scutt continued to hit the target, levelling the game at 3-3 in a convincing sixth leg win. The next four legs went back and forth, with Rock missing three darts to go into the break with a two-leg cushion. Capitalising once more, Scutt levelled the scores after 10 legs, setting up a blockbuster finish to the balanced tie.

Despite a below-par performance in the match up to this point, the Norther-Irishman powered on. Producing consistency for the first time since the opening legs, Rocky won three legs consecutively – looking to take the game away from the resistance of Connor Scutt.

Yet the Sniper shot back again.

Scutt showed incredible scoring of his own, fighting back for a third time in the match. Producing several 140 plus scores, the world number 52 would not give up, clawing the scoreboard back to level pegging again, eight legs apiece.

Rocky had to show his class to get over the line in this magnificent exchange, and he did just that. Focusing on the task at hand, Rock held his throw under pressure, limping to a 10-9 victory. An under-par performance for his standards but showing why he belongs in the world’s top 10 with his match-winning qualities.

Luke Littler demolishes Wessel Nijman in world-class display

World-champion, Luke Littler faced bogeyman, Wessel Nijman, in the main event in Wolverhampton. Littler cruised through the group stage, winning three from three, losing just five legs in the process.

Nijman also displayed some inspiring darts in the group stage, overcoming the challenging Josh Rock, only losing out to fellow Dutchman, Gian Van Veen, as he booked his spot in the knockout stage against The Nuke.

The opening session of this young match up was dominated by The Nuke. Littler showcased five astonishing legs of darts, producing a 5-0 whitewash. Wessel Nijman was not offered a dart at double in the opening five legs, with Littler averaging over a century.

A much-needed break in play providing the young Dutchman with an opportunity to compose himself and look to bring his way back into the match, as he so often does. No player on the pro tour has won more games in the year than the world number 34.

Nijman utilised his reset perfectly, winning back-to-back legs at the start of the second session to reduce the opposing 5-0 deficit.

Although, the inevitability of the world number two winning legs continued to occur. The young pair held their throw for the following three legs, moving the scoreboard to 7-3 at the second interval.

However, this break did not come to the aid of Nijman as the previous did. Littler continued with his spectacularly rounded performance, combining power scoring with elite finishing to go within one leg of the victory.

The Dutchman continued to attempt to keep up with the defending champion, recording an average of 94.94, yet the skillset of Littler was too much on this occasion. The Englishman wrapped up the victory in a convincing final leg, averaging 105.38, setting up a quarter-final match up with Josh Rock, whilst maintaining his career invincibility in Wolverhampton.

Dutch duo provide fireworks as Danny Noppert overcomes Michael Van Gerwen

Play closed with the final match seeing another one nation affair, between Dutchmen Michael Van Gerwen and Danny Noppert.

Three-time Grand Slam champion, Van Gerwen, topped group G after defeating Beau Greaves and Gary Anderson. Noppert also won two out of three in the group stages, winning 5-4 against both Cameron Crabtree and Lukas Newig. In the last tie between the pair, The Freeze had ice in his veins, holding his nerve to produce a 6-5 victory on the European Tour.

An astonishing opening leg, saw both players exchange scores of above 140. As Noppert struck a maximum to leave himself 81, the pressure was on Van Gerwen to check out the big fish.

Mighty Mike reeled it in!

The ridiculous display of power scoring continued from the Dutch stars, as four maximums were struck in the opening three legs. MVG looked in control of the third leg as he missed a game dart at double 18, with Noppert left on what checkout? The big fish again.

In remarkable fashion, The Freeze completed the feat that Van Gerwen had just minutes before hand, much to the delight of the crowd.

Chants flourished from the crowd as both players continued to hit big, however big Mike was just one leg away from finding himself in early trouble and a three-leg deficit. Nonetheless, Van Gerwen found a way back into this tie, through another outrageous 160 checkout. Simply world-class scoring and finishing from both players in the opening five legs.

After the break, the fireworks continued from the Dutchmen. Van Gerwen continued to chase Noppert but could do no more than hold his own throw, missing darts to level the scoreboard going into the second break. After 10 legs, both players averaged above the century mark, with a 75% checkout rate proving the telling difference for Noppert, leading by two legs going into the final session of this thriller.

The Green Machine dominated the first leg of the last session, looking to put Noppert under serious pressure, yet The Freeze remained ice cold to reinstate the two-leg deficit.

Noppert continued to produce consistency, hitting a 170 to set up a 15 checkout. Double four went a miss before Noppert cleaned up on double two, further increasing the deficit with the finish line now in sight.

Van Gerwen tried but could not succeed, with the world number 11 showing no signs of slowing down as he got one hand on the last quarter-final spot. Van Gerwen had chances to apply pressure of his own and kickstart a comeback, but the quality in the finishing was not present.

Noppert closed the night’s play, hitting double tops to avoid the potential comeback, finishing with a stellar 98.34 average to set up a replay of his group stage match against Lukas Wenig in the quarter final.

Luke Littler cruises into the quarter-final, as Rock, Wenig and Noppert win thrillers

Schedule of play –

Thursday November 13 (1900 GMT)

4x Second Round

Lukas Wenig 10-8 Niko Springer

Josh Rock 10-9 Connor Scutt

Luke Littler 10-4 Wessel Nijman

Michael van Gerwen v Danny Noppert

Friday November 14 (1900 GMT)

2x Quarter-Finals

Ricky Evans v Gerwyn Price

Luke Humphries v Michael Smith

Saturday November 15 (1900 GMT)

2x Quarter-Finals

Luke Littler v Josh Rock

Danny Noppert v Lukas Wenig