3 minute read
Luke Littler held his nerve to beat fellow Englishman Ross Smith 6-5 in the World Series of Darts Finals first round.
Smith had two chances to triumph in the deciding leg, but he missed double 13 and then double four and world championship runner-up Littler punished him by completing a 51 finish.
The 17-year-old's quest for an £80,000 top prize in Amsterdam will continue on Saturday.
Reigning world champion Luke Humphries beat Haupai Puha 6-3, while home favourite Raymond Van Barneveld gave his supporters plenty to shout about with a 6-0 drubbing of Swede Johan Engstrom.
Elsewhere, defending champion Michael Van Gerwen defeated Jonny Clayton 6-4, Chris Dobey produced a 132 finish to edge past Dimitri Van Den Bergh 6-5, Damon Heta beat Gabriel Clemens by the same score, Stephen Bunting lost 6-4 to Croatia's Boris Krcmar and Danny Noppert saw off Gian Van Veen 6-3.
