Luke Littler will face Damon Heta in the quarter-finals of the Australian Darts Masters after beating New Zealand's Haupai Puha in the deciding leg; the teenager produced a 13-darter to secure victory and avoid a first defeat in the opening round of a World Series event; Littler won the World Matchplay in July.
Pictured: Luke Littler beat Haupai Pooh 6-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Darts Masters.
Luke Littler has reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Darts Masters after beating New Zealand's Haupai Puha in a shootout decider.
Littler, the reigning world and World Matchplay champion, averaged 91.80 during his 6-5 win in Wollongong, which he achieved by hitting 13 darts against the throw.
The 18-year-old missed a match dart in the previous leg, missing the ball after two successful 20-point triples when he threatened to win in style with a 170.
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Pictured: Littler will face Damon Heta in the quarter-finals in Wollongong.
Pooh broke with a double-eight to set up the deciding leg, but was unable to take advantage of the opening shot as Littler avoided his first loss in the first round of the World Series.
Nuke will now face home favourite Damon Heta in the quarter-finals on Saturday after the Heat thrashed James Bailey 6-0, averaging 109.98 and knocking down four maximums.
World number one Luke Humphries lost his first two matches to Johnny Tutta before winning 6-3 to meet World Series debutant Mike De Decker in the quarter-finals, who beat Brandon Wening 6-2.
Pictured: World No.1 Luke Humphries lost his first two matches to Johnny Tata before winning 6-3.
Top seed Stephen Bunting crushed Brodie Klinge 6-1, with Klinge avoiding defeat by shooting a superb 161 to hit the target.
Next up for the Bullets is Josh Rock, who averaged 108.16 to beat Simon Whitlock 6-1 in his World Series opener.
Also, defending champion Gerwyn Price, who crushed Littler 8-1 in last year's final, defeated Joe Comito 6-3.
Price's reward was a quarter-final against Chris Dobey, who fought back from 4-2 down to beat Tim Pusey 6-4 to ensure all eight of the PDC's elite players qualified for the first day.
Australian Darts Masters – Friday Results
1/8 finals (best of 11 stages)
Mike De Decker 6-2 Brandon Vining
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Joe Comito
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Brodie Klinge
Luke Humphries 6-3 Johnny Tata
Damon Heta 6-0 James Bailey
Luke Littler 6-5 Haupai Pooh
Josh Rock
Sourse: skysports.com
