Ryan Searle raised a confrontation with world champion Luke Little and Mike De Decker reserved a reunion with the world No. 1 Luke Humphries during the day one of the Belgian open Lecot arrows.
Searle opened his challenge with an extraordinary 6-2 win over Darryl Pilgrim, booking a second round meeting with defensive champion Little – who won in the debut last year – Saturday night.
Favorite at home de decker overcame a great fear against Thomas Lovely in Octoberhallen, where he survived two match arrows when 5-4 down before coming through a final foot decision maker.
The 29-year-old will now go head-to-head on the big stage with Humphries for the first time since De Decker beat him to search for a TV title in the Grand Prix to Boylesports of October.
“This crowd has been amazing for the last four years, and I am very happy I can get for them for them tonight,” de Decker reflected. “I just wanted to play well.
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Main Points of Grand Prix 2024 in the world between Luke Humphries and Mike de Decker
“I was playing really well in the background. But I’m still trying to find confidence with my placement. Tomorrow I can ask Luke if we can play double in double because then I know I can win!”
Daryl Gurney was a Friday performer on foot, on average 106 and subtracting a wire of tone-plus endings to send the Thibault Tricole 6-1 and provide a second round collision against Danny Noppert.
Dutch Dirk Van Duijvenbode and Gian Van Veen also celebrated the return victories, overloading 4-1 deficits against Darius Labanauskas and James Hurrell respectively.
Michael Smith was one of the other winners of the first round of high profile, turning a sensational 125 finish in Bull on the way for a 6-5 success against a patient Ryan Joyce, while Raymond Van Barneveli progressed and will face Open Contest of UK, James Wade on Saturday.
European champion Rinkie Edose emerged a 6-4 winner against Owen Bates in a high quality relationship and will now play a resurrected Nathan Aspinal for a place in the last 16, with the second round played in two sessions on Saturday.
Saturday’s program and the second round draw
Afternoon session (12:00 am)
Danny Noppert vs Daryl Gurney
Gary Anderson vs Luke Wooce
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 Aspinal Vs Ritchie Idouse
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Luke Humphries struck a nine dense, but lost to Rob Cross at the Premier League quarterfinal on Thursday; Cross then hit a nine dense in his semifinal loss to Nathan Asinall
Evening session (6 afternoon)
James Wade Vs Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright Vs Matt Campbell
Gerwyn price vs gian veen veen
Dimitri van den Bergh v Schindler/Long
Luke Humphries vs mike de decker
Luke Little vs Ryan Searle
Michael van Gerwen vs Boris Krcmar
Chris Dobey Vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
Sunday 9 March
Afternoon session (12:00 am)
The third round
Evening session (6 afternoon)
quarterfinal
semis
Final
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Luke Littler says his main goal is to reach the first four after defeating Nathan Asinall in the 5th night final of the Premier League in Brighton
Where does the Premier League go further?
The Premier League continues on the motorpoint Arena, Nottingham on Thursday, March 13 like Luke Humphries and Luke Little Clash in a Titanic meeting. Look at night six of Premier League arrows, in Nottingham, Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sport Action from 7pm – Broadcast now.
Sky Sports will once again be the Premier League home in 2025, every night exclusively to live along with the world match, Grand Prix World, Grand Slam of Darts and more! Stream arrows and more high sport with now
