Michael van Gerwen was jolted out of the Grand Slam by Danny Noppert, who beat him 10-6 in a last-16 tie, while defending champion Luke Littler powered into the quarter-finals with a commanding 10-4 victory over Wessel Nijman.
Van Gerwen v Danny Noppert
The Van Gerwen–Noppert contest opened in spectacular fashion, with four ton-plus checkouts across the first five legs: Noppert landed a 101 finish and Van Gerwen produced a brilliant 160. After that adrenaline-fuelled start the scoring steadied in the second session and the throw held for a stretch, although Van Gerwen missed a chance to break in the 10th leg when he failed to hit D18, allowing Noppert to move 6-4 up.
Noppert then seized momentum, winning three consecutive legs to put himself on the brink of victory. He faced some nerves late on but closed out the match on the tops to complete a notable scalp over the Dutch world number.
Noppert reflected that he had played well throughout but admitted feeling anxious in the closing stages, saying he had to cope with pressure before finishing strongly. He added that, if he keeps this level of form, he will be dangerous for anyone in the draw.
Littler dominates Nijman
Littler produced an outstanding display of doubling and scoring, averaging 105 as he swept aside Nijman 10-4. He was rampant in the opening session, averaging close to 111 and winning all five legs to take complete control early on.
Nijman battled back to 5-2 after the break, but missed a key chance to retake the initiative and Littler moved to 7-3. The decisive moment came in the 10th leg when Littler broke throw, hit an 86 finish on the bull and maintained an 83 percent success rate on doubles. He wrapped up the win with a 96 checkout.
Littler said he wants to close out matches quickly and is keeping his focus on the title and the world No 1 spot, taking the tournament one game at a time.
Thursday results
– Lukas Wenig 10-8 Niko Springer
– Josh Rock 10-9 Connor Scutt
– Luke Littler 10-4 Wessel Nijman
– Michael van Gerwen 6-10 Danny Noppert
Rock survives Scutt as Wenig posts career win
Littler will face Josh Rock in the last eight. Rock edged past Connor Scutt 10-9 in a deciding-leg shootout in which neither player reached peak form. Rock began 3-0 up but struggled for treble visits early, going 16 visits without a treble across the opening eight legs, and Scutt mounted a fierce fightback. Rock held his nerve when it mattered, sealing the match with a 14-dart leg finishing on D9.
Noppert now meets Lukas Wenig after Wenig produced the biggest win of his career, beating Niko Springer 10-8 to reach his first major quarter-final. Wenig hit a match-winning 53 percent on doubles, recovered from an early 0-2 deficit to level at 5-5 (including a stunning 154 checkout), then forged ahead with a break to lead 9-7 and finished the match on the tops.
Confirmed quarter-finals
– Lukas Wenig vs Danny Noppert
– Luke Littler vs Josh Rock
What’s next
Quarter-final action continues on Friday, with two best-of-31-legs matches scheduled: Ricky Evans takes on Gerwyn Price, and former Grand Slam winners Luke Humphries and Michael Smith meet in the other quarter-final.
Friday November 14, 19:00 (Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event)
– 2x Quarter-Finals (best of 31 legs)
– Ricky Evans vs Gerwyn Price
– Luke Humphries vs Michael Smith
Live coverage of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts continues each evening from 7pm on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event.