Littler Maintains Title Charge as Noppert Sinks Van Gerwen

Dominant Performances in Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

On Thursday, the second round of the £650,000 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts concluded with a series of captivating performances and thrilling comebacks. Reigning champion Luke Littler demonstrated his prowess by securing an emphatic victory over Wessel Nijman, showcasing his exceptional form on the Grand Slam stage.

Littler’s Dominance Over Nijman

Day Six saw Littler dominate the opening stages of his match against Nijman, quickly establishing a five-leg lead. His precision and consistency were evident as he landed a hat-trick of 15-darters, showcasing his ability to hit the treble 20 with ease. Despite Nijman’s valiant efforts, including winning three of four legs in the middle section, Littler held firm, ultimately wrapping up an impressive victory with an 83% checkout success rate.

Reflecting on his performance, Littler stated, “Wessel and I have had our battles in the past, so to get that win over him was special.

I had to switch on tonight. I’ve won titles like the World Matchplay coming back from 5-0 down, but tonight I wanted to prove a point and start strongly.” The Northern Irishman has now secured 11 consecutive victories at the Grand Slam stage, setting his sights on an even greater achievement in the upcoming quarter-finals.

Noppert’s Thrilling Victory Over Van Gerwen

In another closely contested match, Danny Noppert emerged victorious against Michael van Gerwen. The high-quality encounter featured a combined 170 checkout from both players and a remarkable 160 combination from the Dutch legend. Despite van Gerwen’s efforts to maintain his world-class form, Noppert proved too strong with a consistent display that saw him lead 3-2 following the opening session.

Van Gerwen fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to defeat after missing three crucial darts in the tenth leg.

Reflecting on his performance, Noppert expressed satisfaction and anticipation for future challenges: “It was a rollercoaster. I think I coped well under pressure, so I’m really happy. Over the whole game I played well.

Everything went my way, but in the end I was a little bit nervous. If I keep playing like this and maintain this form, I think there will be problems for everyone.” Noppert will now face Lukas Wenig in the quarter-finals, marking their third meeting within a month.

Rock’s Narrow Victory Over Scutt

Josh Rock secured his place in the quarter-finals with a narrow victory over Connor Scutt. Despite both players struggling to hit their marks early on, Rock managed to seize control by securing a 3-0 lead. However, Scutt’s mid-game slump provided an opening for Rock, who ultimately prevailed through a 14-dart hold in the decider.

Reflecting on his performance, Rock admitted his frustration: “We both didn’t play as well as we could tonight. I’ve never missed the treble 20 as much in my life. I just couldn’t hit the treble 20 at all. I am absolutely grateful I won that game, but I did not deserve to win.” Despite his modesty, Rock’s victory sets up an intriguing rematch with Luke Littler.

Quarter-Finals Line-Up

The quarter-finals of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts are set for Friday. Key matchups include:

• Ricky Evans facing Gerwyn Price
• Luke Humphries versus Michael Smith
• Danny Noppert vs Lukas Wenig
• Josh Rock vs Luke Littler

The event is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and through PDC’s worldwide partners, including DAZN and Viaplay. Fans can also watch on PDCTV outside of specific regions.

The next round promises to be an exciting affair with top players vying for a place in the semi-finals. As the tournament progresses, the stage will continue to showcase some of the best darts players in the world, making this edition of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts one to watch closely.