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Luke Littler acceptable up a rematch of the World Darts Championship last against Michael van Gerwen aft winning successful the archetypal circular of the Dutch Masters successful Den Bosch.
Newly crowned satellite champion Littler was not astatine his champion but did capable to bushed Belgian hostile Dimitri van den Bergh 6-4.
The 16-man knock-out tourney sees each 8 best-of-11 archetypal circular ties connected Friday night, with the quarter-finals, semis and last connected Saturday.
And successful his archetypal tourney since turning 18 this week, Littler volition look van Gerwen successful the past 8 successful a repetition of the satellite title last earlier this month, which Littler won 7-3.
Littler, who was beaten successful the past 8 of the Bahrain Masters past week, started beardown with a 12-dart 2nd leg, ending with a 134 cheque out.
But Van den Bergh broke him successful the 4th limb to level astatine 2-2 with an 11-darter successful what turned into a backmost and distant game, with 4 of the archetypal six legs going against the throw.
Littler showed immoderate vulnerability erstwhile throwing to spell 5-4 up, busting with a treble 16 portion trying to deed the neighbouring treble eight.
But Van den Bergh could not punish him and Littler took the limb astatine the 2nd effort earlier seeing retired the match.
By contrast, Van Gerwen progressed with minimal fuss, dominating Dutch compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode successful a 6-1 win.
Earlier, determination was a large upset arsenic satellite fig 1 Luke Humphries was beaten 6-3 by location leader Jermaine Wattimena, ranked 35th.
After going 2-0 down, Dutchman Wattimena won 5 successive legs portion throwing immoderate sensational darts successful averaging 98.86, much than 7 points higher than Humphries - earlier holding his nervus and his propulsion to spark chaotic celebrations.
Wattimena volition look satellite fig 4 Rob Cross successful the quarter-finals, aft the Englishman bushed Richard Veenstra 6-3 successful the opening lucifer of the night.
The partisan assemblage successful Den Bosch had plentifulness to bask with 7 of the 8 archetypal circular matches featuring Dutch players.
And they were besides thrilled arsenic Raymond van Barneveld rolled backmost the years to stun Chris Dobey successful an 11-leg thriller.
The 57-year-old was visibly affectional aft taking retired a 144 checkout successful the last limb to bushed Dobey 6-5, aft the Englishman had missed a lucifer dart.
This was 1 of galore breathtaking games connected Friday evening, and followed apical effect Stephen Bunting narrowly seeing disconnected Dutch anticipation Gian van Veen successful different 11-leg battle.
Bunting is ranked archetypal astatine this tourney aft winning the Bahrain Masters past weekend, but the Liverpudlian was forced to a deciding limb by van Veen.
He held his nervus successful the last acceptable to bushed the satellite younker champion 6-5 and proceed to the past 8 wherever helium volition look van Barneveld.
The location fans were besides delighted by location favourite Kevin Doets cruising to a 6-1 triumph implicit satellite fig 11 Nathan Aspinall.
Doets volition adjacent play 2nd effect Gerwyn Price, who comfortably bushed Danny Noppert 6-2.
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