Luke Littler breezes through 'Beast from the East' Baetens at Winmau World Masters as classy Clayton hits 112 average in stunning win

Luke Littler has played his first match back in a major ranking tournament since becoming PDC World Champion and he made light work of former WDF World Champion, Andy Baetens at the Winmau World Masters. While Jonny Clayton impressed with the performance of the night so far.

Littler was the player that most were there to see on Night Two of the main action but they only got just over 15 minutes of The Nuke as the Belgian didn't offer any resolve to the charge of the phenom.

It wasn't all his own way early on for Littler as Andy Baetens hit a 76 checkout for 1-1 but with him throwing first 'The Nuke' has found himself into the lead.

Littler ended the set with a 13-darter for 2-1 and has broken to begin set two albeit after a myriad of missed doubles.

A 77 checkout saw Littler claim the second set as he was easing towards the finish with only one more set needed for the recently turned 18-year-old. A 50 checkout on double 20 saw Littler lead to begin set three. He sealed the win on double 18 to movet hrough.

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Classy Clayton shines with 112 average

Jonny Clayton though produced the performance of the night thus far seeing off Martin Schindler with a 112.7 average as well as five 180's and 6/9 on the doubles.

Averaging 113 and 136 during the opening two sets, Clayton sped away into a 2-0 lead. Schindler broke to begin set three though as he aimed for a comeback. He missed 128 for the set. But he returned for a 2-1 deficit. Still was pole position Clayton.

Schindler missed a sumptuous 132 using two bulls missing the double 16 and Clayton brought out his famous finger point off the 121.

Schindler missed two for 86 and Clayton took aim at 90 for the match. He pinned double 15 first time for a superb win with a 112 average.

Nathan Aspinall also sealed victory and hit a 103 average himself in the second best display of the evening to see off Andrew Gilding 3-0 with five 180's, a 161 checkout and 6/8 on the doubles.

To start, Gilding hit a 180 with his trade mark thumbs up but couldn’t take aim at 60 as Aspinall hit 161 with his back against the wall and was throwing for the opening set.

Gilding missed double 19 and messed around and Aspinall took the opener 2-0. 180’s continued to pour out from Aspinall who took control of set two after Gilding couldn’t make his advantage count. He hit 139 to leave 62 for the set. All the pressure was on 135 for the set for Gilding but Aspinall returned for the second set.

Gilding finally got a leg on the board but it was only on his own throw. A 46 checkout saw Aspinall make it 1-1. An exceptional treble 19 drifted in for 116 saw Aspinall get a match dart but he missed it albeit he returned to seal the win.

Dobey, Chisnall and De Decker fall

While a trio of top names fell over the course of the night. Ryan Searle found his way past the former Masters champion in Chris Dobey who will make his Premier League return next week in a 3-1 win.

Searle held throw to open the tie on double 20. Dobey hit back with a 110 checkout for 1-1. Searle missed 170 for the set but Dobey couldn’t hit 161 allowing Searle back for the lead. Searle finally hit double four to claim it.

Dobey held on double 11. Searle missed 104 on double 12 to hold and Dobey returned only to miss double 16 for 64 and Searle held on double six. Dobey missed three for the set but Searle marginally missed treble 19 for the 155. Hollywood returned as a result.

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Searle began set three with a 76 checkout to fold. Dobey hit 74 with Searle ready to pounce. Searle held for the set to make it 2-1.

Searle missed 84 for a break but returned with Dobey missing 80 to hold. Searle hit double four and was throwing for the win. Dobey hit 86 to break back. Searle missed 121 for the match but returned finally for double seven to seal the win.

Mike de Decker fell in his opener

While Mike de Decker and Dave Chisnall are both also out after questioning the fact they weren't picked for the Premier League. It was a 3-2 win for James Wade over the World Grand Prix champion.

Wade opened up with a 76 checkout hold. De Decker missed two for 25 to open up and ‘The Machine’ punished to seal the opening set.

De Decker opened set two with a 116 checkout on double 18. He had a chance at 126 to seal the set but a set dart came and went but Wade missed three in hand for a hold and De Decker sealed it. Wade missed the bull for 161. But he made a mess of the return only for De Decker not to get a shot at 106. It was eight missed darts at double in a row but Wade finally fell over the line at 1-0.

De Decker missed 118 to hold and Wade hit an 82 checkout to go 2-1 up in sets. De Decker missed 84 for a hold but Wade couldn’t hit back so the Belgian held throw. 94 left 132 for De Decker who merely set it up. But he missed double five from 90 and Wade pinned 86 for 1-1.

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Wade went the wrong side on treble 17 for 161 and De Decker came back for 81 but missed double 13 and ‘The Machine’ had a match dart but missed double 20. Last set drama was upon us. A 64 checkout though sealed a quick last set win for Wade as De Decker goes home early.

For Chisnall, it was Cameron Menzies that accounted for him. He came all the way from the preliminary rounds with a few days of work in the Milton Keynes area plumbing around that.

But he narrowly defeated 'Chizzy' tonight to punch his ticket into Saturday. Menzies hit 66 for a good opener albeit it wasn’t great from either in the opening exchanges. Chisnall missed 69 to level but Menzies couldn’t hit treble 15 for the 145 combo and the St Helens ace returned for 1-1. A 70 checkout saw Menzies pinch the opening set 2-1.

Breaking to begin set two, Menzies handed himself the throw to head towards the finishing line. He hit a 180 to leave 126.

He missed the double 12 but came back to claim the set with Chisnall way back. Albeit this was eventually as he messed around on his finishing before finally hitting double three. One more set for Menzies or a long way back for Chisnall.

The long way back began for Chisnall at least for now. Leaving double 20 from 96 after a missed dart, Menzies was way back which allowed Chisnall multiple bites at the cherry before he sealed it for 2-1 down.

Chisnall missed 90 but Menzies messed up not pinning the big number off 86. But ‘Chizzy’ missed again and Menzies hit double four for 1-0 with a break to go one away from the win. A 72 checkout sealed it for Menzies.

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