Littler loses to Wade as world No 1 wait continues

After being defeated by James Wade in a heart-felt 10-7 second-round defeat, Luke Littler’s quest to become the world’s number one continues.

Meanwhile, Luke Humphries, who came from behind before winning the decisive leg, defeated Cameron Menzies 10-9.

The four quarter-finals will take place in the afternoon before the semi-final and final will take place on Sunday.

Littler, 18, could have easily and uncontestedly taken the PDC Order of Merit from Englishman Humphries at the event in Dortmund if he had won the title.

Wade went 2-0 up before Littler restored the lead to 3-2 in a tight final-16 contest.

Wade extended his lead to 6-6, but Littler responded once more, drawing the game level at 6-6.

After resuming their legs, Wade took the lead, using Littler’s failure to check out double 10 to make it 8-7, and then completing the feat on 73 before putting together a skillful finish on 108 to win.

Wade, who reached the top of the PDC rankings in 2010 and is an 11-time PDC major winner, told ITV that Littler “played very well” in contrast to his usual high standards.

Wade remarked, “I think I should have gotten away with it a little more before I did.”

“I believe everyone who plays darts knows how to play.”

While Littler and Wade both had averages of 97.75 and Littler did eight 180s to Wade’s three, throwing 11 more 100+ scores and receiving checkout rates of 45.45% and 33.33% demonstrated the difference.

Littler has struggled in recent years in Germany, where he has been forced to skip some matches in order to avoid getting a hostile response from the crowd.

When the pair lost to Germany at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt in June, he and Humphries were booed alongside him.

Humphries faced Scotland’s Menzies with 5-7 and 5-8 behind, but he rallied for a decisive lead with three straight legs and held his throw.

Humphries’ checkout rate was lower, but he was able to beat Menzies thanks to a higher average and 100+ and 140+ throws.

With his victory, he will face compatriot Wade in the final eight.

Humphries claimed that he “really had to work hard” to beat Menzies.

He said, “I’m proud of the way I held myself when I was very frustrated.” “I was attempting to hold myself together.” I’m very proud of what I did and how I came back.

Gian van Veen 2-10 Ryan Searle

Ross Smith versus Daryl Gurney 10-6

Ryan Joyce: 7-10 Ryan Schindler

Michael van Gerwen 5-10 Chris Dobey

Jermaine Wattimena 10-6 Ricardo Pietreczko

Danny Noppert 7-10 Nathan Aspinall

James Wade James Littler 7-10

Gian van Veen vs. Ryan Joyce

Daryl Gurney vs. Michael van Gerwen

Luke Humphries vs. James Wade