Littler Dominates Belgian Darts Open Defence as Seeds Tumble
This report examines the shifting landscape of elite darts, drawing parallels to the youthful dominance seen in modern football. Luke Littler’s masterclass in Belgium illustrates a generational shift where established seeds are struggling to maintain their footing against the precision and mental fortitude of a new world number one.
The King Returns to His Kingdom
Luke Littler averaged 104.70 as he began the defence of his Belgian Darts Open title with a convincing 6:2 win over Boris Krcmar on Saturday. Whilst the reigning world champion was delivering another exhibition of controlled brilliance at the Oktoberhallen in Wieze, chaos reigned elsewhere as a string of top seeds tumbled out in alarming fashion.
Two days after coming from 5:0 down to beat Gerwyn Price 6:5 to win the latest round of Premier League action in Dublin, Littler could have been forgiven for showing signs of fatigue. Instead, the 19 year old demonstrated precisely why he has won two PDC World Championships, in 2025 and 2026, and is the youngest world champion in darts history. He now holds 12 PDC major titles, ranking third all-time, with a total of 26 PDC titles to his name.
This is a venue that holds special significance for the Warrington sensation. The Nuke won this title in his debut year in 2024 and remains unbeaten in 11 matches in this tournament, having defeated Rob Cross 8:7 in the 2024 final before retaining the title by defeating Belgium’s Mike De Decker 8:5 in the 2025 final. The Belgian faithful have witnessed Littler’s ascent from European Tour debutant to world number one on their soil.
Clinical Finishing Despite a Brief Wobble
Littler moved 4:0 ahead against Krcmar, taking out double 19 twice and racing through the gears with an average that briefly touched 115 before settling at a still-devastating 104.70. The Croatian qualifier, who had produced 116 and 121 checkouts in a 101+ average performance in the first round, was simply blown away by the sheer weight of scoring.
Yet the two-time world champion did not have it all his own way after missing five match darts in the seventh leg against his Croatian opponent. For a fleeting moment, Krcmar sensed an opening, the Oktoberhallen crowd stirring at the prospect of an upset. The missed opportunities were uncharacteristic of a player operating at such a high level, but Littler’s class would soon shine through once more.
Humphries Survives Scare as Top Seeds Crumble
Whilst Littler was cruising through his opening fixture, world number two Luke Humphries was given a major scare before seeing off Dirk van Duijvenbode 6:4. Humphries had raced into a 4:0 lead but his Dutch rival hit back and missed a dart to level at 5:5, allowing the Englishman to capitalise and close out victory with a 100.25 average.
The question must be asked: what caused Humphries to nearly blow such a commanding advantage? The answer lies in a familiar pattern that has plagued the world number two throughout this Premier League campaign. When opponents refuse to buckle under pressure, Humphries has shown a tendency to tighten up on his finishing. Van Duijvenbode, known for his mercurial form, sensed the hesitation and very nearly made Humphries pay the ultimate price.
The other top seeds were not so fortunate. James Wade and Stephen Bunting were early casualties as they lost their second-round matches to Cristo Reyes and Andy Baetens respectively. Wade’s exit was particularly emphatic, as Reyes romped to a 6:2 victory over the world number six, continuing his remarkable comeback to the sport. Josh Rock, still winless in his debut Premier League Darts campaign, also exited following a stunning comeback from Belgian star Kim Huybrechts.
The Road Ahead
The tournament now enters its critical phase, with the quarter-finals beckoning on Sunday evening. Littler’s section of the draw has opened up nicely following the chaos of Saturday’s second round. Wade’s exit removes a potential semi-final opponent who has troubled him in the past, though Wade recently succumbed to an 11:2 defeat to Littler at the UK Open final earlier this season.
The bigger tests will come if Littler navigates through to the latter stages, where Humphries or Van Gerwen likely await. But on this evidence, on this stage, against any opponent, Littler looks untouchable. His record at this venue is pristine, his confidence sky-high, and his form remains devastating. In Belgium, he remains king, defending a fortress that shows no signs of falling.