Luke Littler maintained his bid for back-to-back Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts titles to arrange a semi-final showdown with Danny Noppert, following a high-quality night time of motion in Wolverhampton on Saturday.
Following wins for Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Worth in Friday’s quarter-finals, Littler and Noppert accomplished the semi-final line-up with victories over Josh Rock and Lukas Wenig respectively.
Nevertheless, Littler was compelled to get well from 9-6 adrift to protect his defence of the Eric Bristow Trophy, averaging north of 105 to topple Rock in a compelling quarter-final conflict.
Rock fired in a trio of 12-darters to place Littler beneath the microscope early on, earlier than averaging 110 in a brutal mini-session to ascertain daylight at 9-6.
Littler responded in sometimes defiant trend, successful seven straight legs to grab management of the competition, in a exceptional spell which featured 74, 71, 90, 96 and 81 mixture finishes.
Rock hit again with a superb 11-dart break to scale back the arrears to 13-11, earlier than the pair traded 12-darters on the bull because the relentless high quality continued.
Nonetheless, Littler halted the Northern Irishman’s resistance with an 11-dart break to maneuver to the cusp of victory at 15-12, which he duly sealed by way of a trademark end on double ten moments later.
“I slowed my throw down and that basically helped with the timing of my photographs,” revealed Littler, who’s unbeaten in 12 video games on the Grand Slam of Darts stage.
“I used to be giving myself absolute hell at 9-6 down, however then I got here again on and received the subsequent 5 and went into the lead, and I couldn’t ask for something higher.
“Me and Josh at all times convey the perfect out of one another. It’s one other sport and one other win and I am nonetheless unbeaten right here.
“I do know I must win yet one more sport to change into the world primary, however I must get previous Danny tomorrow afternoon, which might be a tough sport.”
Noppert will tackle Littler for a spot in Sunday night’s showpiece after working out a complete 16-8 winner towards shock bundle Wenig.
The rising German drew first blood with an attention-grabbing 130 end on the bull, though it was Noppert’s mixture ending that proved decisive within the early exchanges.
The Dutchman landed a hat-trick of 76 checkouts within the opening session, earlier than registering successive 116 and 140 outshots to create a 6-4 cushion.
Noppert then rattled off a five-leg sequence to stretch his result in 11-4, just for Wenig to cease the rot with an impressive 170 checkout in leg 16.
The previous UK Open champion responded with one other four-leg burst to maneuver to the brink of victory, earlier than defying 104 and 129 checkouts from Wenig to substantiate his progress.
“I am actually completely happy. I am within the semi-final of the Grand Slam,” mirrored Noppert, who has now featured in 5 televised semi-finals in 2025.
“I used to be dreaming about it on a regular basis and now I did it. This was not my finest sport after all, however I’m actually proud to be within the semi-finals.
“I feel I am in the perfect type of my life and I at all times consider in myself, so I’m actually happy with all the pieces.”
The Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts will conclude with a bumper double session on Sunday, as former champions Humphries and Worth go head-to-head within the afternoon’s opening semi-final.
Reigning champion Littler then continues his defence of the title towards Dutch quantity three Noppert, earlier than the ultimate might be contested later within the night at WV Energetic Aldersley.
The 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts is being broadcast reside on Sky Sports activities within the UK, by the PDC’s worldwide broadcast companions together with DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland primarily based subscribers).
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2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Saturday November 15
2x Quarter-Finals
Danny Noppert 16-8 Lukas Wenig
Luke Littler 16-12 Josh Rock
