Belgian Darts Open Saturday evening Round-Up | Littler, Humphries and Van Gerwen survive tests as Rock's woes confounded by Huybrechts brilliance in Wieze

Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen all made it through to the final day of action at the Belgian Darts Open in Wieze albeit all were made to work for it in tough examinations some of which was of their own making.

While James Wade and Stephen Bunting were the big casualties. Mike de Decker too didn't give the home crowd at the Belgian Darts Open much to shout about as he was beaten by Niels Zonneveld.

Littler faced off against Boris Krcmar and not a certain Raymond van Barneveld after the Croat strutted his stuff last night but he looked to be strutting to the airport as Littler acted as baggage handler in the opening few legs to ease to the brink.

He opened with a 16-darter and a 12-dart break for 2-0 followed. But he was 5-0 up in no-time at all as he hit a 94 checkout and 119 en route to going one away but Krcmar wasn't done yet and prolonged his stay for at least a few legs. He hit a 125 to avert the whitewash and had freedom from there. He broke and was throwing for 5-3. But despite that, Littler managed to slam the door shut of any revival as he moves into the final day comfortably albeit with some late leg drama.

Michael van Gerwen too wasn't at his free flowing best but he faced an opponent like Krcmar who is a bit of a one to watch always in Mickey Mansell. Albeit it seems Mansell had his spring in his step when facing Michael Smith who he continued his war of words with this morning on social media and while MVG watched on by his daughter Zoe wasn't at his free flowing best, he was still pretty comfortable.

To start, A 161 checkout from Mansell was missed on the bull but MVG missed 102 on double 16 and Mansell hit double two for 1-1. Mansell missed 71 but more golden chances went for MVG and Mansell pinned double 12 though by accident chasing double 20 and MVG returned only to miss double 10 again. Mansell finally hit double 20 for 2-1.

Mansell made it 2-2 but missed 161 on the bull again. Van Gerwen returned for 60 to make it 3-2 and break throw. Double 10 saw Van Gerwen go 4-2 up and he held for 5-3 with a 70 checkout before completing the job with a 114 checkout.

Luke Humphries saw off Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 but it didn't really tell the full story as 'Cool Hand Luke' underwent a bit of an examination in the later stages with The Titan who averaged 77 to start the game initially falling way behind before finally finding his game.

This coincided with Humphries semi-wilting and his gamed didn't show the signs it did early. But he managed to get over the line lamenting that he can't hit the heights of 105-107 while still actually playing pretty steady darts. To start Humphries was given a nice freebie as Van Duijvenbode lamented missed chances. Double eight pinned and a break for Humphries saw him go 2-0 up. Double 16 for Humphries saw him go 3-0 up holding throw and halfway to the finish. Double 18 followed as he snuck 4-0 ahead and was two away from the win as Van Duijvenbode was averaging just 77.

A 63 checkout for Van Duijvenbode followed who was finally on the board with a break. A 180 too started the next leg but Van Duijvenbode was broken as Humphries went 5-1 up.

Humphries missed three darts at 80 and back came Van Duijvenbode to break again for 5-2. Van Duijvenbode held with a 60 checkout to make it 5-3 to answer the question again. Van Duijvenbode missed the bull for 132 but Humphries couldn't pin 160 so suddenly Van Duijvenbode broke for 5-4 and was throwing for a decider but Humphries missed 128 not pinning the second double 18. He left it handy in case Van Duijvenbode didn't hit 112. He got the treble and took aim at double 16 but missed it and Humphries hit double 20 to win.

To start the night, James Wade was well beaten as the revival of the Spartan, Cristo Reyes continues. A 95 average for the Spaniard who hit two 180's and 6/13 on the doubles and is into the final day. His combination finishing in particular was a sight to behold as he hit 87 and 58 to go 2-1 up and despite missing 75, he returned to break for 3-1. A 97 checkout for Reyes saw him surge into a 4-1 lead as Wade was sinking fast. A break back for Wade followed but his revival was cut short as Reyes won 6-2.

Jonny Clayton has led the Premier League this season and has even through gout been utterly brilliant but he was nearly bolted from the tournament as Sebastian Bialecki handed him a scare. He ended up winning through 6-3 after being 3-2 down with The Ferret having to pull the afterburners out the tank to win the last few legs.

But the main results apart from the big names came from the Belgian contingent. Mike de Decker was slumped out by Niels Zonneveld, Kim Huybrechts came through past Josh Rock. While Andy Baetens delighted with Stephen Bunting again losing to a home hero just as he did last time to Niko Springer.

Baetens did his best to throw it away but just about got over the line. He missed three darts to break but he returned finally on double 18. A 50 checkout from Baetens who made it 2-0. Bunting though finally held on double one for 2-1. Baetens pinned double 10 to make it 3-1 to hold but Bunting was back to hold himself on double 16 for 3-2 down.

A 76 checkout for Baetens to go 4-2 up followed. Bunting broke back with an 81 checkout to make it 4-4 and he was now throwing for 5-4. But missing chance after chance, Baetens missed two at double 18 but returned eventually for double four. Baetens missed 124 on the bull to win. But he returned after Bunting missed two darts to stay in it to seal the win.

De Decker lost to Zonneveld who keeps rising and rising as of late with a 6-5 loss for the former World Grand Prix champion. De Decker went 3-2 up after early breaks and held for 4-2 on double 17. But a 70 checkout saw Zonneveld hold for 5-4 and he hit 87 to break and send it all the way at 5-5. A 54 checkout then saw him win it.

While in the last game of the night, it looked very likely that Josh Rock would win early on against Kim Huybrechts but his owes continue after his Premier League winless run against a player who himself had a horror show on the darting roadshow.

Rock missed 102 on double 16 for a break and Huybrechts pinned double two for a hold to go 1-0 up. A 92 checkout and double 16 for Rock who held and broke for 2-1. A 77 checkout for an 11-darter for Rock to go 3-1 up but he missed 97 for 4-1 and Huybrechts held for 3-2 down.

A 17 darter on double five for Rock to make it 4-2 saw him go two away but the twist came. Rock missed 116 for a break and eventually after missing dart after dart, Huybrechts held on double two. 4-4 for Huybrechts who broke on double 16. From so good for Rock to potential trouble. Huybrechts was throwing for 5-4 which he got.

Rock missed three darts to hold but Huybrechts missed a dart to win and Rock returned only to miss darts to send it all the way and Huybrechts won on double 20.