On a night where James Wade completed a landmark victory over Luke Littler it was the other Luke, World number one Luke Humphries, and Dutch World Youth Champion Gian Van Veen who stood out at the Machineseeker European Championship on Saturday.
Much of the focus ahead of the tournament was on a potential last eight showdown between Humphries and Littler, although Wade put paid to that prospect by dumping out the World Champion in front of over 7,000 fans at the Westfalenhalle.
The pair remarkably boasted identical averages in a closely-fought contest, but Wade’s superior finishing saw him wrap up a 10-7 win and inflict Littler’s first ever defeat in the last 16 of a TV ranking event.
Littler recovered from 2-0 and 6-4 deficits to level against the experienced left-hander, yet Wade was unperturbed, winning each of the last three legs to secure his first victory against the teenager in a televised ranking event.
“Luke didn’t play his A-game there, but I’m really happy with that win,” claimed 2018 champion Wade, who was aided by a trio of ton-plus checkouts.
“I think I probably should have run away with the game earlier than I did, but it’s a big positive to move forwards.”
Humphries booked his place in Sunday’s Finals Day with an epic deciding-leg victory over Cameron Menzies, averaging 103.64 to end the Scot’s valiant resistance.
Menzies looked to be on the cusp of a famous win at 8-6 ahead, but Humphries delivered the goods in the closing stages, following up an 11-dart break with an 83 finish on the bull to turn the tide before double 18 sealed the comeback.
“I’m proud of my performance, but I think I’m more proud of the way I held myself together,” admitted Humphries, who will now retain his world number one status following the event.
“Cameron is a fantastic player. When he’s in full flow he’s amazing and I had to really work hard to stay with him at times in that game.
“It’s great to average 110, but when you’re winning games when you are really under the cosh and things are going against you, it’s quite pleasing.”
Elsewhere, Ricardo Pietreczko maintained home hopes on Day Two in Dortmund to set up a quarter-final showdown with Danny Noppert, in a repeat of their clash at the same stage of the 2024 event.
Pietreczko delighted his partisan home crowd with a 10-6 victory against 2024 runner-up Jermaine Wattimena, punishing 24 missed darts at double from the Dutchman to advance.
The German number two will now renew his rivalry with Noppert, who averaged north of 101 to dump out top seed Nathan Aspinall in a high-quality affair.
Aspinall crashed in eight 180s but still found himself adrift at 9-5, and his late fightback came in vain as Noppert nailed a brilliant 130 on the bull to reach the last eight for a fifth consecutive year.
Noppert’s compatriot Gian van Veen also remains in the hunt for a maiden televised ranking title, after producing a sublime display to dismantle Ryan Searle 10-2 in Saturday’s opening tie.
The World Youth Champion was imperious from start to finish at the Westfalenhalle, averaging 109.92, landing seven 180s and converting a show-stopping 170 checkout to book a place in his second European Championship quarter-final.
“This was one of my best performances on TV,” admitted 2023 semi-finalist Van Veen.
“I always knew I had this in the locker, and maybe a big title is around the corner.
“To see where I came from in the last three years is amazing. I’m in the top 16 now and I feel even more comfortable than I did last year. I’m really enjoying it.”
Michael van Gerwen preserved his bid for a record fifth European Championship success following a 10-5 victory over Chris Dobey, despite an average of 101 from the former Masters champion.
Dobey was punished for a profligate start as Van Gerwen raced into a 5-1 lead, and although the Bedlington star responded with a three-leg spell to reduce the arrears, Van Gerwen regained control to advance with a 100.76 average.
“I wasn’t at my best, but I think I was solid and I did the right things at the right moments,” reflected the Dutchman, who survived seven match darts in his Round One clash against Wessel Nijman.
“My scoring power wasn’t too great, but my doubles at the beginning of the game got me through.
“I’ve been in these situation more than anybody in this tournament, so I know exactly what you have to do on days like tomorrow. We’re only in the quarter-finals now, so nothing is done yet.”
Van Gerwen’s reward for that victory is a last eight showdown against Daryl Gurney, who produced 116, 122 and 124 finishes in the latter stages of his 10-6 victory against 2022 champion Ross Smith.
Van Veen, meanwhile, will face debutant Ryan Joyce, who delivered a typically clinical display to dump out German number one Martin Schindler – aided by a superb 67% checkout success rate.
Finals Day at the Machineseeker European Championship will begin with the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon, before the decisive semi-finals and final are held on Sunday evening, with the title and a £120,000 top prize up for grabs.
The action is being broadcast live on ITV in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding subscribers based in the UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
2025 Machineseeker European Championship
Saturday October 25
Afternoon Session
Round Two x4
Gian van Veen 10-2 Ryan Searle
Daryl Gurney 10-6 Ross Smith
Ryan Joyce 10-7 Martin Schindler
Michael van Gerwen 10-5 Chris Dobey
Evening Session
Round Two x4
Ricardo Pietreczko 10-6 Jermaine Wattimena
Danny Noppert 10-7 Nathan Aspinall
James Wade 10-7 Luke Littler
Luke Humphries 10-9 Cameron Menzies
Sunday October 26
Afternoon Session (1245-1700 CEST, 1145-1600 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Ryan Joyce v Gian van Veen
Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney
Danny Noppert v Ricardo Pietreczko
James Wade v Luke Humphries
Best of 19 Legs
Semi-Finals
Joyce/Van Veen v Van Gerwen/Gurney
Noppert/Pietreczko v Wade/Humphries
Best of 21 legs
Final
v
Best of 21 legs
—–ENDS—–
Images: Michael Cooper/PDC
