Luke Littler commenced the defence of his Belgian Darts Open crown with a dominant 6-2 victory over Boris Krcmar at the Oktoberhallen in Wieze. The teenage sensation, fresh from a dramatic comeback win in Dublin just two days prior, delivered a polished performance to advance to the last sixteen.
Routine Progression for the World Champion
Littler, a two-time world champion, established early control by surging to a 4-0 lead, showcasing precision with double 19 finishes. Despite a minor stumble where he missed five match darts in the seventh leg, the 19-year-old Englishman swiftly regained composure. He fired back-to-back 180s and, although a nine-darter eluded him, sealed the match with an impressive average of 104.7.
Next Challenge Awaits
This victory sets up a tantalising last-16 encounter against Dutch player Niels Zonneveld, who narrowly defeated last year's runner-up Mike De Decker 6-5. Littler's form suggests he remains a formidable contender as he aims to retain his title in Belgium.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Top Seeds
Elsewhere in the tournament, world number two Luke Humphries survived a significant scare before overcoming Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4. Humphries raced into a 4-0 lead, only for his Dutch opponent to mount a fierce comeback. Van Duijvenbode missed a crucial dart to level at 5-5, allowing Humphries to capitalise and close out the match with a 100.25 average.
Van Gerwen and Clayton Advance Comfortably
Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen secured a 6-4 win against Mickey Mansell, while Jonny Clayton experienced few difficulties in dispatching Sebastian Bialecki. However, the tournament saw early exits for James Wade and Stephen Bunting, who fell to Cristo Reyes and Andy Baetens respectively in their second-round matches.
The Belgian Darts Open continues to deliver high-octane drama, with Littler's title defence off to a strong start as he eyes further glory in Wieze.
