Luke Littler won a scrappy encounter against Ricardo Pietreczko at the Players Championship Finals on Saturday night to reach the quarter-finals.

New world No 1 Littler overcame German star Pietreczko 10-6 in a back-and-forth battle, averaging 102.67 to remain on course to win every major in the sport.

Last year’s runner-up appeared in a spot of bother when he was locked at 5-5, but he stepped on the gas to win four out of the next five legs and land a stunning 121 with the aid of two bullseyes en route to victory.

“Obviously I am never happy when I am losing, at 3-2 down I then got it back to 5-all and I just had to kick on there,” Littler said on ITV4.

“I knew there were no more breaks, we were on (stage) until the end and I managed to get the job done. I was not the best on my doubles tonight, but I can sharpen up on them again tomorrow afternoon.”

Littler, who will face the winner of the match between Krzysztof Ratajski and Josh Rock on Sunday afternoon, added: “This is one (title) I have not won, everyone does know that. I am definitely chasing for it tomorrow.”

Littler had earlier averaged a whopping 107 against Ross Smith – who averaged 102 and struck a 157 checkout – to win 6-3 and advance to round three.

The teenager smashed in four 180s and a high checkout of 121 for a place in the last 16 against Pietreczko.

The German downed ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Gary Anderson, who squandered five for the match to gift ‘Pikachu’ a 6-5 win thanks to a 116 checkout.

Anderson, 54, battled through illness to compete at Minehead and he has cast a huge doubt about getting back to his best ahead of this year’s Worlds at Alexandra Palace, saying: “I’ve not got time to play darts at this moment in my life. I have so much going on darts is down the ladder. It’s simple as that.”

Daryl Gurney, the 2018 champion here, survived 10 match darts from surprise contender Adam Lipscombe to land an 11-darter in the deciding leg to seal a stunning 10-9 victory to earn a quarter-final showdown with Gerwyn Price.

The No 1 seed smashed in a huge 161 checkout and won six of the final seven legs to see off German No 1 Martin Schindler 10-6.

Price says he is preparing for a bruising showdown with Gurney following their tense exchange at the World Matchplay in Blackpool in July.

“I’ve got my boxing gloves packed I am ready for him,” said the world No 10.

Gurney is the only remaining former champion left in the field after 2021 winner Peter Wright suffered a 6-4 defeat at the hands of James Wade earlier in the day.

The Scot, who won his first game on TV since January’s World Masters in the first round against Joe Cullen, hit back at the doubters as he looks to rediscover his best form in time for the Worlds.

“I love proving people wrong. A lot of people said I should give up, yeah, maybe they’re right, but inside here, I ain’t finished yet,” said Wright, a two-time world champion.

Nathan Aspinall held off Dutchman Danny Noppert 10-8, with both players hitting six 180s.

Wade followed up his earlier win over former world champion Peter Wright with a 10-6 victory over Andrew Gilding.

Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena battled past Ryan Searle 10-8 to secure his place in the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time.

Round Three Results

Main Stage
Gerwyn Price 10-6 Martin Schindler
Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Danny Noppert
Luke Littler 10-6 Ricardo Pietreczko
Krzysztof Ratajski v Josh Rock

Stage Two
Daryl Gurney 10-9 Adam Lipscombe
James Wade 10-6 Andrew Gilding
Jermaine Wattimena 10-8 Ryan Searle
Chris Dobey 10-5 James Hurrell

Gian van Veen, who dethroned defending champion Luke Humphries in the opening round, suffered a dramatic 6-5 defeat to Polish No 1 Krzysztof Ratajski after squandering a 5-3 lead and two match darts.

The new European Champion is now blocking all talk of his mouth-watering World Youth Final showdown against Beau Greaves on Sunday evening.

“I’m not even thinking about that game against Beau,” he said.

Josh Rock took out four ton-plus finishes and averaged north of 107 in his 6-0 demolition job of Scott Williams in just 10 minutes.

However, it was ‘Shaggy’ who stole the show with his Star Wars darts case whilst singing along to K-Pop Demon Hunters during his walk-on.

Round Two Results

Main Stage
Daryl Gurney 6-4 Stephen Bunting
James Wade 6-4 Peter Wright
Nathan Aspinall 6-0 Richard Veenstra
Gerwyn Price 6-1 Sebastian Bialecki
Luke Littler 6-3 Ross Smith
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Gian van Veen
Josh Rock 6-0 Scott Williams
Danny Noppert 6-1 Madars Razma

Stage Two
James Hurrell 6-1 Luke Woodhouse
Adam Lipscombe 6-2 Bradley Brooks
Ryan Searle 6-5 Callan Rydz
Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Ryan Joyce
Martin Schindler 6-4 Nick Kenny
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Gary Anderson
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Justin Hood
Chris Dobey 6-5 Cam Crabtree

Whitlock qualifies for Alexandra Palace

Simon Whitlock will make his return to the Paddy Power World Darts Championship after winning the 2025 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Australian icon beat Raymond Smith 10-7 in the final at Nissan Arena to pocket the $30,000 prize but more importantly his place at Alexandra Palace next month.

The former World Championship runner-up was full of emotion post-match, having missed out on last year’s World Championship which ended a 15-year streak of featuring at Ally Pally.

“It means the world to me,” reflected Whitlock. “This gets me into the World Championship now and that gives me a lifeline to do some other things as well.

“I just want to thank the crowd and all my family that are here tonight. They’ve been amazing.

“It’s been a real struggle. Raymond’s probably been the best player throughout this tournament, but thank God I pulled it out on the night. I had to.

“Just getting back in the World Championship, that’s a lot for me and this means the world just to have a chance to be a World Champion again. I just want to cry, but I’m not going to.”

Sky Sports will once again be the home of the Premier League, World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championship! Stream darts and more top sport with NOW