Grand Slam of Darts: Luke Littler aims for semi-final spot as 'untouchable' Gian van Veen faces Gary Anderson | Darts News

Saturday’s Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals see teenager Luke Littler face Jermaine Wattimena, whereas two-time former world champion Gary Anderson performs Gian van Veen.

The match already has one semi-final line-up determined and it’s a shock one, with world quantity 45 Martin Lukeman taking up Grand Slam debutant Mickey Mansell.

Each gamers will characteristic of their first main semi-final after Lukeman upset final yr’s runner-up Rob Cross, whereas 51-year-old Mansell received a nail-biter in opposition to Cameron Menzies.

So who will be part of Lukeman and Mansell within the final 4?

Jermaine Wattimena vs Luke Littler

Teenage sensation Luke Littler edged a last-16 thriller in opposition to Mike De Decker because the Nuke received six of the final seven legs to squeeze previous the World Grand Prix champion 10-9.

Littler’s defeat of the Belgian noticed him arrange a last-eight conflict in opposition to Jermaine Wattimena after the Dutchman fought again to beat Dimitri van den Bergh in a last-leg decider.

Sky Sports activities’ Wayne Mardle thinks Littler’s composure on the age of 17 is “not the norm” however believes De Decker might at some point carry the World Darts Championship regardless of his heartbreaking defeat.

Mardle mentioned: “Mike did not buckle. The one dart at a bullseye, anybody can miss that. However as soon as Luke discovered his rhythm and acquired nearer and nearer, it wasn’t as if Mike thought that is all an excessive amount of.

“Luke simply did his job so nicely, and to have that composure, that perception at that age as nicely, it is not the norm. It is simply not.

“To supply what he did in that final leg, the three-figure photographs that he had, three of them on the bounce, after which the 86 end, a 12-darter at nine-all with the darts, Mike De Decker would have needed to have gone out in 9. That is how good it was.

“However Mike De Decker, although he misplaced and he is a reigning champ, he is come out of this match with much more credit score. He is a possible world champion. He is that good.”

Sky Sports activities’ Mark Webster praised the Premier League champion’s character within the victory over De Decker.

The Welshman mentioned: “It was an excellent tie. De Decker acquired out in entrance and he missed some doubles at essential instances.

“However you credit score the character of Luke Littler to come back again at him. And when he acquired that chance to throw for the match, he actually grabbed it.

“A little bit of despair for De Decker. He did have the one dart at a double – it was solely a bullseye, however he can maintain his head excessive. However for Luke Littler, it was a implausible efficiency.”

Gary Anderson vs Gian van Veen

Saturday’s different quarter-final has been labelled as “fascinating” by Mardle with the skilled Anderson, in his seventeenth Grand Slam look, going through the in-form Van Veen.

The 22-year-old has averaged 100+ in his 4 victories, together with a mean of 106 and 7 maximums in his last-16 win over Ryan Joyce.

The Dutchman’s red-hot performances are “championship-winning stuff” in keeping with Mardle, who thinks he seems to be “untouchable”.

Mardle mentioned: “Till somebody’s received a serious, there’s all the time that query mark of, ‘Are they adequate to win a serious?’ He is adequate. He is already confirmed it sport after sport after sport. That is championship-winning stuff. It is even higher than that.

“Nobody will get close to him if he continues to play like this. It is the truth that he is so good, it is a case of he’ll win it if that type continues.

“He is the one one which’s regarded untouchable. Everybody else has had slightly little bit of frailty sooner or later. Gian van Veen, none of it. It is spectacular what he is doing.”

The 51-year-old added: “I feel the Gian van Veen and Gary Anderson sport is fascinating.

“If Gian van Veen performs like this once more then what on earth? We predict that these report averages are simply set for sure individuals like Gary Anderson, like Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor. No. Gian Van Veen is one other teenager that believes he can rule the world and why not?”

However Anderson, who defeated Masters champion Stephen Bunting within the final 16, shall be hoping to cease Van Veen and stay on the right track for a maiden Grand Slam title having completed runner-up twice on the occasion.

Webster mentioned: “It is some tie. I used to be impressed with each gamers in numerous methods. Clearly, for Gian he simply continued that ridiculous scoring and simply battering gamers into submission.

“He did it within the group and we’re like, ‘Okay, it is first to 5’. He is carried out it first to 10 so we have got to start out taking this man severely for a tilt on the title.

“However with Gary Anderson, he did the harm together with his ending and he will want that in opposition to Gian, however he is acquired to attain with him or he will not get these alternatives.”