Littler Into Grand Slam Last Eight, Van Gerwen Out

Defending champion Luke Littler maintained his hopes of becoming world number 1 pinch a ascendant triumph against Wessel Nijman successful nan past 16 of nan Grand Slam of Darts, arsenic Michael van Gerwen was knocked out.

Littler, who would usurp Luke Humphries, external astatine nan apical of nan rankings if he reaches nan last successful Wolverhampton, raced into a 5-0 lead earlier his Dutch force sewage connected nan scoreboard.

Nijman reduced his shortage to 6-3 but, aft missing 3 darts astatine a double to move 2 legs behind, recovered himself 7-3 down.

World champion Littler went connected to triumph 10-4, finishing pinch an mean of 105.38, and will play Josh Rock successful nan quarter-finals.

"I person my eyes connected everything," Littler told Sky Sports. "The title, world number 1 - if I get to nan last I'm world number 1 - but we've conscionable sewage to return it crippled by game."

Three-time champion Van Gerwen faced chap Dutchman Danny Noppert and some vanished pinch 170 checkouts successful nan first and 3rd legs respectively successful a accelerated start.

Van Gerwen was doing nan chasing for astir of nan lucifer and kept himself wrong scope earlier his compatriot took 3 legs successful a statement to move 9-5 successful beforehand earlier winning 10-6.

Rock, who won nan World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland on pinch Daryl Gurney successful June, held disconnected Connor Scutt to gain a constrictive 10-9 victory.

Rock held leads of 3-0 and 8-5 but Scutt battled backmost to unit a decider, which nan Irishman - pinch nan propulsion - took to advancement into nan past eight.

In an all-German match, Lukas Wenig came done a intimately fought brushwood against Niko Springer, winning 10-8.

Lukas Wenig 10-8 Niko Springer

Josh Rock 10-9 Connor Scutt

Luke Littler 10-4 Wessel Nijman

Danny Noppert 10-6 Michael van Gerwen