It’s day two of the Darts European Championship – and Luke Littler is back in action.
The 17-year-old sensation has shot to superstardom this season as he eyes his first European title. It’s a battle of generations this evening (October 25) in Germany as Andrew Gilding will be hoping to roll back the years one more time against the teenager.
Elsewhere, Luke Humphries starts his campaign against Nathan Aspinall while Peter Wright starts his title defence against Jermaine Wattimena – who impressed in the Czech Darts Open last weekend.
Steven Bunting was the biggest victim of the first evening of darts, as he came crashing out at the hands of Gary Anderson – with the Flying Scotsman winning 6-3.
Anderson has quite the motivation to win the tournament thanks to his plane prices: “We won’t start on the travelling. British Airways done me like a kipper. I’ve got to win this tournament just to break put it that way.
(Image: PA)
“The two Europeans that I’ve done and I’ve done ProTours in Hildesheim. It’s been good. I’ve enjoyed it, I wouldn’t like to be away all the time like every week. I just can’t do it. What I have done, I’ve enjoyed it.”
Richie Edhouse continued his fabulous Euro Tour form, while Daryl Gurney dumped out Gerwyn Price and Luke Woodhouse saw off Ross Smith.
Michael van Gerwen cruised past Gabriel Clemens and Raymond van Barneveld had no answer for Ryan Searle. “I knew beforehand that this was going to be a very difficult match,” Van Barneveld reflected to Dutch media afterwards. “I’ve never actually seen Searle throw badly before.”
“I could not find enough trebles, although on the practice board it went very well. Only when I was down 5-0 I could throw some very good legs. Maybe it was because I was suddenly more relaxed at the board. I threw another 10-darter and even had chances to reduce the deficit even further.
“But realistically the calf was already drowned by then. Ryan was simply the rightful winner tonight. He played extremely well and was in control of the match the whole time.”
Dirk van Duijvenbode continued his great form against Martin Schindler and, in the main event of the evening, Michael Smith whitewashed Dave Chisnall.