Luke-ing Out For Number One

LUKE Littler’s bid for back-to-back Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts titles reamins o course after he set up a semi-final showdown with Danny Noppert, following a high-quality night of action in Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Following wins for Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price in Friday’s quarter-finals, Littler and Rock completed the semi-final line-up with victories over Josh Rock and Lukas Wenig respectively.

However, Littler was forced to recover from 9-6 adrift to preserve his defence of the Eric Bristow Trophy, averaging north of 105 to topple Rock in a compelling quarter-final clash.

Rock fired in a trio of 12-darters to put Littler under the microscope early on, before averaging 110 in a brutal mini-session to establish daylight at 9-6.

Littler responded in typically defiant fashion, winning seven straight legs to seize control of the contest, in a remarkable spell which featured 74, 71, 90, 96 and 81 combination finishes.

Rock hit back with a brilliant 11-dart break to reduce the arrears to 13-11, before the pair traded 12-darters on the bull as the relentless quality continued.

Nevertheless, Littler halted the Northern Irishman’s resistance with an 11-dart break to move to the cusp of victory at 15-12, which he duly sealed via a trademark finish on double ten moments later.

“I slowed my throw down and that really helped with the timing of my shots,” revealed Littler, who is unbeaten in 12 games on the Grand Slam of Darts stage.

“I was giving myself absolute hell at 9-6 down, but then I came back on and won the next five and went into the lead, and I couldn’t ask for anything better.

“Me and Josh always bring the best out of each other. It’s another game and another win and I’m still unbeaten here.

“I know I need to win one more game to become the world number one, but I need to get past Danny tomorrow afternoon, which will be a difficult game.”

Noppert will take on Littler for a place in Sunday evening’s showpiece after running out a comprehensive 16-8 winner against surprise package Wenig.

The emerging German drew first blood with an eye-catching 130 finish on the bull, although it was Noppert’s combination finishing that proved decisive in the early exchanges.

The Dutchman landed a hat-trick of 76 checkouts in the opening session, before registering successive 116 and 140 outshots to create a 6-4 cushion.

Pictures from the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts at the Aldersley Leisure Centre, Wolverhampton.

Noppert then rattled off a five-leg sequence to stretch his lead to 11-4, only for Wenig to stop the rot with a magnificent 170 checkout in leg 16.

The former UK Open champion responded with another four-leg burst to move to the brink of victory, before defying 104 and 129 checkouts from Wenig to confirm his progress.

“I’m really happy. I’m in the semi-final of the Grand Slam,” reflected Noppert, who has now featured in five televised semi-finals in 2025.

“I was dreaming about it all the time and now I did it. This was not my best game of course, but I’m really proud to be in the semi-finals.

“I think I’m in the best form of my life and I always believe in myself, so I’m really pleased with everything.”

The Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts will conclude with a bumper double session on Sunday, as former champions Humphries and Price go head-to-head in the afternoon’s opening semi-final.

Reigning champion Littler then continues his defence of the title against Dutch number three Noppert, before the final will be contested later in the evening at WV Active Aldersley.