In a nail-biting first round of the World Masters, top-ranked Luke Littler narrowly escaped an early exit in Milton Keynes as he advanced to the second round. The 19-year-old reigning world champion faced significant pressure but eventually overcame Belgium's Mike de Decker. De Decker had one match dart to secure victory but missed his chance, allowing Littler to seize the opportunity.

Intense Match Highlights

Littler initially took the lead by winning the first set. However, De Decker made a strong comeback, leveling the match with a remarkable 121 checkout. The Belgian continued his momentum, taking a 2-1 advantage and holding a match dart after two treble 20s during a 142 check-out attempt. But his third dart narrowly missed double 11, leaving the door open for Littler.

Littler's Resilient Comeback

Capitalizing on De Decker's miss, Littler hit a double 16 to even the score, then started the deciding set with a perfect 180. Reflecting on his performance, Littler described the night as challenging, acknowledging De Decker's competitive play in the middle sets. Despite not feeling in control, Littler expressed satisfaction in finding his form and securing the win.

Looking Ahead

With this win, Littler sets his sights on the last-16, where he'll face Ross Smith. The defending champion, Luke Humphries, also had a strong showing, overcoming Dave Chisnall with a 104 average after dropping the first set. Humphries hit an impressive seven 180s to win 3-1.

Other Matches and Results

The tournament saw Stephen Bunting defeat Jeffrey de Graaf 3-1 in the final match of the night. Other winners included Josh Rock, Luke Woodhouse, Danny Noppert, and Rob Cross, each advancing to the next round.

The second day of play has set the stage for exciting matchups as competitors continue to vie for the prestigious title.

Source:bbc uk