Luke Littler (Photo by Taylor Lanning/PDC")
Luke Littler delivered a brace of superb performances to maintain his title tilt at the Players Championship Finals, as top seed Gerwyn Price also progressed.
The World Champion overcame fourth seed Ross Smith in a sensational contest, averaging 107 on his way to a 6-3 success.
Littler then produced a blistering mid-match spell to eliminate Ricardo Pietreczko in the last 16, winning seven of the last eight legs to topple Germany’s number two 10-6 with an average of almost 103.
“I wasn’t at my best on the doubles but hopefully I can sharpen up on those tomorrow afternoon,” declared Littler, who landed an eye-catching 121 finish with the aid of two bullseyes.
“This is a title I haven’t won and everyone knows that, so I’m definitely chasing it and hopefully I can come back tomorrow and get another win.”
Littler’s reward is a last eight clash with fifth seed Dobey, who defeated Cam Crabtree and James Hurrell in advancing to his second televised ranking quarter-final of the year.
Dobey swept aside Hurrell to confirm his spot at Finals Day, having withstood a stirring fightback from Crabtree to escape in a compelling last-leg decider in Round Two.
Elsewhere, Price will take on 2018 champion Daryl Gurney in Sunday’s opening quarter-final, after the Welshman continued his charge with victories over Sebastian Bialecki and Martin Schindler.
Following an average of 105 in his 6-1 drubbing of Bialecki, Price converted 127 and 161 combinations to complete a 10-6 success against Schindler, winning six of the last seven legs to book his place in the last eight.
“I haven’t been doing it on the TV, but I think I’m due,” insisted Price, who is eyeing his first televised ranking title since November 2021.
“I’m feeling good, I’m confident in my ability and the way I’m playing darts.
“I’m feeling good mentally, and that’s what I want when I’m on stage, to be enjoying the game.”
Gurney, meanwhile, is the only former champion left standing in Minehead, although the Northern Irishman enjoyed a huge slice of fortune in his Round Three victory over debutant Adam Lipscombe.
The 39-year-old began the day with a hard-fought 6-4 success against world number four Stephen Bunting, before surviving ten match darts to deny a crestfallen Lipscombe, who led 8-4 and 9-7.
Gurney’s World Cup partner Josh Rock was one of Saturday’s stand-out performers, following up a whitewash win over Scott Williams with a gruelling 10-8 triumph against Krzysztof Ratajski.
The World Cup winner converted four ton-plus finishes in his demolition of Williams, before crashing in ten maximums to fend off a spirited Ratajski, who fought back from 8-2 down to threaten a remarkable turnaround.
Rock’s next assignment pits him against Nathan Aspinall, who recorded contrasting wins over Dutch duo Richard Veenstra and Danny Noppert to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in his career.
Having whitewashed Veenstra in ruthless style, the Stockport star defied a ton-plus average from Noppert to prevail 10-8 in a battle of the former UK Open champions, aided by a superb 67% checkout success rate.
James Wade and Jermaine Wattimena will also go head-to-head for a place in the semi-finals, as the Dutchman eyes a fourth successive win over the world number six.
Wade accounted for 2021 champion Wright in a heavyweight Round Two tie, which he backed up with an attritional 10-6 win at the expense of 2023 UK Open winner Andrew Gilding.
Wattimena produced the performance of the tournament to dispatch Ryan Joyce, averaging 108.94 and registering winning legs of 14, 15, 12, 13, 12 and 12 darts to cap off a virtuoso display.
The 37-year-old then came out on top in a taxing affair against Ryan Searle, punishing 27 missed darts at double from the 2021 runner-up to complete a 10-8 victory.
Former champions Gary Anderson and Wright were amongst the high-profile casualties in Round Two, while European Champion Gian van Veen relinquished a 5-3 lead against Ratajski at the same stage of the tournament.
The remaining eight players will battle it out for the £120,000 top prize on Finals Day, which begins with the quarter-finals later today, followed by the semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.
The Winmau World Youth Championship final will also be held between the semi-finals and final, as reigning champion Van Veen faces Women’s Series winner Beau Greaves in a blockbuster showdown.
RESULTS
Round Two: 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; 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 Pietreczko6-5 Gary Anderson; Andrew Gilding 6-5 Justin Hood; Chris Dobey 6-5 Cam Crabtree
Round Three: Gerwyn Price 10-6 Martin Schindler; Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Danny Noppert; Luke Littler 10-6 Ricardo Pietreczko; Josh Rock 10-8 Krzysztof Ratajski; Daryl Gurney 10-9 Adam Lipscombe; James Wade 10-6 Andrew Gilding; Jermaine Wattimena 10-8 Ryan Searle; Chris Dobey 10-5 James Hurrell
