Luke Littler Advances as Belgian Open Shocks with Top Seeds' Early Exits

Luke Littler began his title defense at the Belgian Open with a commanding second-round victory, showcasing his prowess on the doubles with a 42.9% checkout rate to secure a 6-3 win against Ryan Searle. However, the tournament was not without its surprises, as four of the top 10 seeds were eliminated early, including world number one Luke Humphries and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.

Van Gerwen's defeat was particularly shocking, as he was bested 6-4 by unranked Croatian qualifier Boris Krcmar. Humphries, despite a nine-dart finish in the Premier League, was upset 6-4 by local favorite Mike de Decker, who averaged an impressive 100.45.

Other notable matches saw Ross Smith dominate Rob Cross with a 6-2 victory, and Nathan Aspinall narrowly losing 6-5 to Ritchie Edhouse. The tournament continues with Littler facing Luke Woodhouse in the third round, while Gerwyn Price and Damon Heta prepare for their next matches after strong performances.

The Belgian Open concludes on Sunday, promising more thrilling darts action as the remaining players vie for the title.