Nov 15,2024
Luke Littler fought back to win six of the last seven legs and edge out Mike De Decker to book his place in the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.
Littler had been in fine form in Wolverhampton, coasting through his opening group, but Belgian De Decker recovered from a slow start to forge 8-4 ahead.
After De Decker then moved one away at 9-8, but Littler - who had earlier been on a nine-dart finish, but missed a treble with his seventh throw - dug in again to force a deciding leg.
With World Grand Prix champion De Decker sat on 170, Littler closed out 86 to seal a memorable comeback win.
"I don't know if I enjoyed that. I've got to feel for Mike," Littler said on Sky Sports.
"I didn't think I was in the game, but I know I can always switch that gear.
"Coming onto the stage (for the last session), I didn't think I could overturn the deficit. I just cannot believe it."
Littler will face Jermaine Wattimena for a place in the semi-finals after the Dutchman fought back to beat Dimitri van den Bergh in a last-leg decider - with both men having missed match darts.
UK Open champion Van den Bergh had surged into a 4-0 lead in the opening match of the night at WV Active Aldersley.
Dutchman Wattimena - who qualified top of Group E - rallied to level and edged in front for the first time at 6-5.
With the legs then locked at 9-9, Van den Bergh contrived to miss eight match darts - including three at double four - which saw Wattimena back in to take out double eight and book his spot in the quarter-finals.
Gian van Veen ended the run of Ryan Joyce with a convincing 10-2 win.
Joyce had beaten Michael van Gerwen to qualify from Group G, but found the going tough against van Veen, who continued his impressive form in Wolverhampton with a match average of 106 and throwing seven maximums.
