2024 Grand Slam of Darts: Luke Littler Survives Mighty Scare to Beat Mike De Decker

The final four last 16 ties of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts thrilled the crowd at WV Active in Wolverhampton, with teenage sensation Luke Littler and two-time PDC World Champion Gary Anderson headlining an action-packed session. 

With four quarterfinal spots up for grabs, each match was a fiercely contested race to 10 legs, as the players battled for a place in the next round and a shot at Grand Slam glory.

The first match of the evening was a clash of contrasting styles on the oche, the rapid-fire Jermaine Wattimena faced off against the deliberate and composed Dimitri Van den Bergh in their last 16 tie at the Grand Slam of Darts. 

Despite being the underdog, Wattimena carried strong momentum into this match, having recently reached the European Championship final. Meanwhile, Van den Bergh, though not at his peak form, had secured the UK Open title earlier this season.

Van den Bergh came out firing, racing to a 4-1 lead in the first mini session, which he wrapped up in under 10 minutes. His fast start left the Machine Gun playing catch-up, but the Dutchman soon sparked to life. Wattimena responded brilliantly, taking the second mini session by the same 4-1 margin to level the contest at 5-5. His comeback included two stunning bullseye checkouts of 126 and 88, showcasing his clinical finishing.

Wattimena continued his surge, winning the next two legs to establish a 7-5 lead and appearing to have the match under control. However, the Dream maker, known for his resilience, kept himself in contention with two sensational ton-plus finishes of 115 and 112, drawing the game level at 8-8.

In a gripping finale reminiscent of Menzies vs. Wade from the previous day, the match went the distance. The tension reached a fever pitch in the deciding leg, as Van den Bergh squandered an astonishing eight match darts. Wattimena, too, missed four match darts of his own before finally capitalising to secure a nerve-shredding 10-9 victory.

Image credit: PDC

Dutch prodigy Gian van Veen aimed to secure his second-ever televised ranking quarterfinal, while Geordie ace Ryan Joyce sought to continue his momentum from last month’s World Grand Prix in Leicester, where he reached the semifinals.

The opening five legs were fiercely competitive, with van Veen edging out a slim 3-2 lead. 

Yet, from there, the match turned into a masterclass by the young Dutchman. Van Veen unleashed a devastating five-leg burst to take control, surging ahead to 8-2 and leaving Joyce with a daunting challenge. Demonstrating incredible precision, van Veen maintained a remarkable three-dart average of over 107, dwarfing Joyce’s below-92 average.

Despite his “Relentless” moniker, Joyce faced an insurmountable climb. Van Veen wrapped up an emphatic 10-2 victory, highlighted by seven 180s. His tournament average across four matches remains an impressive 107+, underscoring the sensational form he’s displayed throughout.

Billed as the match of the night, 17-year-old reigning Premier League champion Luke Littler faced off against defending World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker in an electrifying showdown. It was only their second-ever meeting on a PDC stage, with Littler having claimed victory in their first encounter at a Players Championship event in October.

The match began at a blistering pace, with both players averaging well over 100 through the first five legs. Littler managed to edge ahead 3-2, setting the stage for an intense battle. But momentum shifted swiftly in the following session, as De Decker unleashed two sublime 11-dart legs, winning four of the next five and taking a commanding 6-4 lead over the tournament favourite.

‘The Real Deal’ continued to dominate, extending his advantage to 8-4, and Littler seemed on the verge of defeat. 

Yet, after a brief dip from De Decker, Littler mounted a spirited comeback, narrowing the gap to 8-7. The match turned scrappy as both players fought desperately, splitting the next two legs, and bringing the tension to a boil.

De Decker had a chance to seal victory, but a missed match dart at the bullseye for a 170 finish left the door open. With the match hanging by a thread, the teenage sensation summoned his best form, winning the final two legs in style to pull off an extraordinary 10-9 comeback victory. An unforgettable finish from the 17-year-old!

Image credit: PDC