In a heart-stopping display of nerve and skill, tournament favourite Luke Littler narrowly avoided a shock exit at the Winmau World Masters, surviving a match dart to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mike De Decker in Milton Keynes. The thrilling encounter sets up a highly anticipated last-16 showdown with Ross Smith as Littler continues his quest to add another major title to his impressive collection.
A Rollercoaster Battle of Nerves
The match began with Littler taking the opening set, asserting his status as the favourite. However, De Decker responded emphatically, drawing level by winning the second set with a spectacular 121 finish that landed perfectly on the bullseye. The momentum shifted decisively in De Decker's favour as he won four consecutive legs to seize a 2-1 lead, putting Littler on the brink of elimination.
Critical Moment: The Missed Opportunity
With victory within his grasp, De Decker had a match dart to cause a major upset, needing double 11 to seal the win. In a pivotal moment that defined the match, he missed the crucial shot. Seizing the opportunity, Littler immediately capitalised on the very next throw, nailing double 16 to draw level at 2-2 and keep his tournament hopes alive.
Needing just 30 points to complete a remarkable comeback, the 19-year-old prodigy showed remarkable composure under pressure, seeing off De Decker with a clinical double five to secure his passage to the next round. This victory demonstrated Littler's ability to perform under extreme pressure, reinforcing his reputation as one of darts' most formidable competitors.
Other Notable First Round Action
The evening's action in Milton Keynes produced several other memorable performances. Luke Woodhouse made a World Masters debut to remember by launching the night's proceedings with a comprehensive whitewash of German number one Martin Schindler. Woodhouse averaged an impressive 108.64 – his highest ever television average – and produced a stunning 136 checkout in the opening set.
Dutch debutant Jimmy van Schie fired an exceptional 10-darter to take an early lead against Ross Smith, but the experienced 37-year-old from Kent finished strongly to secure a 3-1 victory. Meanwhile, Daryl Gurney produced seven maximum 180 scores but was still overcome 3-1 by the Netherlands' Danny Noppert in another closely contested match.
Rob Cross overcame Ryan Searle with a 3-1 scoreline, while Josh Rock dispatched Connor Scutt by the same margin, both players securing their places in the tournament's second round with convincing performances.
The World Masters continues to deliver high-quality darts and dramatic moments, with Littler's narrow escape against De Decker standing out as one of the tournament's most thrilling encounters so far. All eyes will now be on his upcoming clash with Ross Smith as the competition intensifies in Milton Keynes.
