Luke Littler stays on track to defend UK Open title by beating Gary Anderson

Luke Littler saw off Gary Anderson 10-5 to continue his UK Open title defence and move into the quarter-finals in Minehead.

The two-time world champion had survived a scare to see off Kevin Doets in the fifth round during Saturday’s afternoon session, but raced into a 4-1 lead in his evening match.

Anderson – who beat Martin Schindler to make the sixth-round draw – threatened a rally when he pinched the seventh leg against the darts, but Littler soon hit back to lead 7-3 at the next interval.

Littler maintained his momentum following the restart with more heavy scoring to take the match away from Anderson – who was eventually dispatched when the world number one pinned tops in the 16th leg, finishing with a 101 average.

Former UK Open champion Danny Noppert produced a composed display to see off world number two Luke Humphries 10-6 in the night’s last match on the main stage.

World number four Michael van Gerwen was dumped out by fellow three-time champion James Wade.

Wade averaged over 105 as he raced to a 10-3 victory to reach finals day.

Gerwyn Price joined him there as the two-time runner-up fought back from 9-4 down to beat Ireland’s Keane Barry 10-9.

In the opening match of Saturday’s evening session on the main stage, Josh Rock saw off Stephen Bunting 10-7, edging a tight contest with a match average of just over 93.

On stage two, Premier League leader Jonny Clayton beat Martin Lukeman 10-7, having hit eight maximums, before Rob Cross beat Daryl Gurney 10-6.

World championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle is also out after he slipped to a 10-5 defeat against Krzysztof Ratajski.

In the quarter-final draw, Littler was paired with Dutchman Noppert.

There will be an all-Welsh match between good friends Clayton and Price.

Wade will take on Cross and Poland number one Ratajski faces Northern Irishman Rock, with the tournament played through to a finish on Sunday evening.