Littler through, Humphries unhappy at NZ Masters

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Frank Keogh

BBC Sport Senior Journalist

48 minutes ago

Luke Littler is chasing a third consecutive title but was made to work for his place in the New Zealand Masters quarter-finals.

The world champion, who has just won the World Matchplay and Australian Masters in succession, was far from his best in beating Kiwi Mark Cleaver 6-4.

Luke Humphries also progressed as he looks to defend his title in Auckland, but described his form as “depressing” after a 6-3 win over Haupai Puha.

England’s Littler, 18, won the first three legs of his match but was pegged back at 4-4 by Cleaver after some sloppy darts before recovering to clinch victory.

“It wasn’t easy up there. Mark’s not the quickest player so I just tried to get into some sort of rhythm, ” said Littler.

The teenager, who averaged 95.60 and did not hit a 180, faces World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker on Saturday in a rematch of last week’s final in Australia.

‘Form is depressing’ – Humphries

Humphries admitted he is not happy with how he is playing after also failing to score a maximum and averaging just 89.47 in his first-round win.

“I think the last two months it has been hard work,” the Englishman said on ITV X.

“I am out of sorts, out of form, and struggling to find something. Since [winning] the Premier League final I have not been in the form I would have liked.

“It is depressing because I feel like something is there but it’s not coming out.

“It’s really tough to not perform at the level you can. I am finding myself not playing very well at the moment – but I can bounce back.

“I don’t think I have had one good game of darts in two months. Everyone knows that and everyone can see that.

“That doesn’t stop me coming back tomorrow and being the world number one that everyone knows.”

Humphries beat Damon Heta in the final to triumph last year and they will face each other again after the Australian thrashed Dean Hyland 6-1.

Top seed Stephen Bunting, aiming to add to his victories at the Bahrain Darts Masters and Nordic Darts Masters earlier this year, progressed past Ben Robb 6-3.

Welshman Gerwyn Price missed double 12 for a nine-darter and averaged more than 103 as he edged out Jonny Tata 6-4 to set up a quarter-final against Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock.