Luke Littler started his Belgian Darts Open title defence with a 6-2 victory over Boris Krcmar in Wieze, averaging nearly 105. The 19-year-old, fresh from a dramatic 6-5 win over Gerwyn Price in Dublin two days earlier, enjoyed a more straightforward evening at the Oktoberhallen.
Littler stormed into a 4-0 lead, taking out double 19 twice, but missed five match darts in the seventh leg. He responded with back-to-back 180s and, though unable to hit a nine-darter, sealed the win with a 104.7 average. He will face Niels Zonneveld in the last 16 after Zonneveld beat last year's runner-up Mike De Decker 6-5.
World number two Luke Humphries survived a scare against Dirk van Duijvenbode, winning 6-4. Humphries led 4-0 but van Duijvenbode fought back and missed a dart to level at 5-5. Humphries capitalised to close out victory with a 100.25 average. Michael van Gerwen also won 6-4 against Mickey Mansell, while Jonny Clayton defeated Sebastian Bialecki comfortably.
However, James Wade and Stephen Bunting suffered early exits, losing to Cristo Reyes and Andy Baetens respectively in the second round.
