UK Open: Luke Littler and Luke Humphries through to the quarter-finals

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries both secured victories in the fifth and sixth rounds of the UK Open on Saturday, successfully advancing to the quarter-finals. Both players delivered outstanding performances, laying a solid foundation for their championship aspirations.

World champion Littler first defeated Jermaine Wattimena with a score of 10-4, then overcame Krzysztof Ratajski with a 10-8 victory in Minehead. Simultaneously, world number one Humphries dominated in both of his matches, first sweeping Ryan Searle 10-0, then easily defeating Ryan Joyce 10-2, averaging an impressive 101.59, and smoothly progressing to the quarter-finals.

Littler will face Dutch player Gian van Veen in Sunday's quarter-finals, while Humphries will take on fellow Englishman James Wade. Humphries, a two-time UK Open runner-up, told ITV that his finishing ability was "very good." The 30-year-old added: "My scoring is alright, but I know it can be better. If I can really get my scoring going, I'm going to be very, very, very dangerous."

After easily defeating Dutchman Wattimena in the fifth round, teenager Littler had to give it his all to beat Poland's Ratajski in the round of 16. Littler once led 6-2, but Ratajski then won four consecutive legs to level the score. The two were evenly matched in the final stages, with world number two Littler ultimately securing the win with a brilliant single 1 and double 2. "I made it harder work than it should have been, but I had to stick in and get the win," the 18-year-old said.

Dutchman Michael van Gerwen unexpectedly exited in the fifth round, losing 8-10 to Welshman Rob Owen, who then lost 8-10 to Wade. This result has added even more suspense to the competition.