LITTLER GIVEN SCARE BY RATAJSKI
01/03/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
By Phil Lanning
LUKE LITTLER was given a huge scare by Krzysztof Ratajski before reaching the UK Open quarter-finals.
The teen sensation was visibly frustrated as he let slip an early lead to allow The Polish Eagle back into their clash in Minehead on Saturday night.
Littler, 18, eventually got over the line 10-8 after throwing away 4-1 and 6-2 leads in the early stages.
He admitted making it more of a struggle than it should have been, saying: “I made it harder than it looked. But I just had to stick in there and get the win.
“He was going leg for leg for the last three or two legs. Before the second break I wanted to go in 7-3 but it was 6-4. That was all down to me. I’m just glad to get over the line.
“It’s not that I always find a way but most of the time I dig myself out of these big holes that I put myself into. But I’m happy and I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.
“I’m certainly enjoying it. If my darts are going well, which they are, I enjoy myself even more. It’s a case of letting them just fly in.
“I’ll look at the next game on Sunday afternoon. Obviously fingers crossed I do get the win in the afternoon. But if not, it is what it is. But I would like to go all the way.”
LUKE HUMPHRIES delivered another huge 10-2 win over Ryan Joyce.
MICHAEL SMITH reached the last eight with a 10-3 win to KO defending champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in a poor quality game.
Former champ JAMES WADE is in the quarters again after beating part-time Iceland delivery driver Rob Owen 10-8. Earlier the Welshman had delivered the shock of the tournament to beat Michael van Gerwen.
JONNY CLAYTON also went into the draw after a comfortable 10-4 victory over Martin Schindler.
NATHAN ASPINALL beat William O’Connor 10-8 while GIAN VAN VEEN got past Damon Heta 10-9. JOSH ROCK came from 4-1 down to beat Rob Cross 10-6.
Quarter-Finals draw:
Gian van Veen v Luke Littler
Josh Rock v Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton v Michael Smith
James Wade v Luke Humphries
