Belgian Darts Open: Ryan Searle units up Luke Littler showdown as Mike De Decker books assembly with Luke Humphries

Ryan Searle arrange a showdown with world champion Luke Littler and Mike De Decker booked a reunion with world No 1 Luke Humphries throughout day one of many Lecot Belgian Darts Open.

Searle opened his problem with a powerful 6-2 win in opposition to Darryl Pilgrim, reserving a second-round assembly with defending champion Littler – who gained on debut final 12 months – on Saturday night.

House favorite De Decker overcame a serious scare in opposition to Thomas Beautiful on the Oktoberhallen, the place he survived two match darts when 5-4 down earlier than coming via a final-leg decider.

The 29-year-old will now go head-to-head on the large stage with Humphries for the primary time since De Decker beat him to assert a TV title in October’s BoyleSports World Grand Prix.

“This crowd have been amazing for the last four years, and I’m so happy I could get through for them tonight,” mirrored De Decker. “I simply needed to play properly.

“I was playing really well backstage, but I’m still trying to find confidence with my set-up. Tomorrow I might ask Luke if we can play double-in double-out, because then I know I can win!”

Daryl Gurney was Friday’s stand-out performer, averaging 106 and touchdown a brace of ton-plus finishes to dispatch Thibault Tricole 6-1 and safe a second-round conflict in opposition to Danny Noppert.

Dutch duo Dirk van Duijvenbode and Gian van Veen additionally celebrated comeback victories, overturning 4-1 deficits in opposition to Darius Labanauskas and James Hurrell respectively.

Michael Smith was among the many different high-profile first-round winners, changing a sensational 125 end on the bull en path to a 6-5 success in opposition to a tenacious Ryan Joyce, whereas Raymond van Barneveld progressed and can face UK Open runner-up James Wade on Saturday.

European Champion Ritchie Edhouse ran out a 6-4 winner in opposition to Owen Bates in a high-quality affair and can now play a resurgent Nathan Aspinall for a spot within the final 16, with the second spherical performed throughout two classes on Saturday.

Saturday’s schedule and second-round draw

Afternoon Session (12pm)
Danny Noppert vs Daryl Gurney
Gary Anderson vs Luke Woodhouse
Dave Chisnall vs Ricardo Pietreczko
Jonny Clayton vs Wessel Nijman
Rob Cross vs Ross Smith
Damon Heta vs Michael Smith
Stephen Bunting vs Jermaine Wattimena
Nathan Aspinall vs Ritchie Edhouse

Night Session (6pm)
James Wade vs Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright vs Matt Campbell
Gerwyn Worth vs Gian van Veen
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Schindler/Lengthy
Luke Humphries vs Mike De Decker
Luke Littler vs Ryan Searle
Michael van Gerwen vs Boris Krcmar
Chris Dobey vs Dirk van Duijvenbode

Sunday March 9
Afternoon Session (12pm)
Third Spherical

Night Session (6pm)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Closing

The place does the Premier League head subsequent?

The Premier League continues on the Motorpoint Area, Nottingham on Thursday, March 13 as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler conflict in a titanic encounter. Watch Night time Six of Premier League Darts, in Nottingham, dwell on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion and Sky Sports activities Motion from 7pm – stream with NOW.

Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be the house of the Premier League in 2025, with each evening completely dwell together with the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW