Luke Littler smashes in 110 average to storm into Flanders Darts Trophy last 8 as quarter-finalists confirmed in Antwerp

Luke Littler stole the show on Sunday afternoon at the Flanders Darts Trophy, producing a stunning performance to power into the quarter-finals in Antwerp.

The reigning World Champion averaged a blistering 110.33 in a high-class clash with Ryan Searle, who himself fired in a superb 104.22 but was ultimately outgunned by Littler’s relentless scoring.

At 3-3 the contest hung in the balance, but ‘The Nuke’ stepped on the accelerator in devastating fashion. He reeled off a 13-darter, an 11-darter and a 14-darter in succession to wrap up a 6-3 victory and book his place in the last eight, where he will face Australian number one Damon Heta. ‘The Heat’ came through his own test, defeating Ryan Joyce 6-4.

Littler’s dazzling display was the standout performance of a dramatic day in Antwerp that also saw Gian van Veen and Danny Noppert join him in the quarter-finals.

Noppert, nicknamed The Freeze, had to mount a comeback to deny home favourite Mario Vandenbogaerde. The Belgian had thrilled the Antwerp crowd by racing into a 3-0 lead, but Noppert showed his steel, fighting back with big checkouts of 97 and 104 to eventually seal a 6-4 win. He will now face Daryl Gurney, who edged past Krzysztof Ratajski in a last-leg decider.

Van Veen also impressed, beating Martin Schindler 6-3 thanks to a string of heavy scoring legs, including 13- and 14-darters that kept the German at bay. His reward is a quarter-final meeting with James Wade, after The Machine brushed aside Leon Weber 6-2.

Elsewhere, Luke Woodhouse and Josh Rock both needed last-leg deciders to advance, setting up an all-British clash in the last eight. Woodhouse held off Mensur Suljovic 6-5, while Rock edged past Stephen Bunting by the same scoreline.

The action continues on Sunday evening from 19:00 local time (18:00 UK time), with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all to be played out in front of what promises to be another electric Antwerp crowd.