Luke Littler: World champion cruises through to World Masters second round

World champion Luke Littler cruised through to the second round of the PDC World Masters with a commanding straight-set win over Andy Baetens in Milton Keynes.

Competing on home soil for the first time since becoming darts’ youngest world champion, teenager Littler completed an efficient 3-0 victory to set up a second round meeting with James Wade.

Littler, 18, averaged 104.33 and lost only one leg in a statement opener as he outclassed his opponent in just 10 minutes.

Also on Friday, World Championship runner-up Michael van Gerwen defeated Bradley Brooks 3-1 and will meet Dimitri van den Bergh next.

Belgian Van den Bergh beat Scottish 14th seed Gary Anderson 3-1 to progress to the tournament’s last 16, which takes place on Saturday.

Wade, the 15th seed, will go into his match against Littler on the back of a 3-2 win over Mike de Decker.

Elsewhere, Cameron Menzies upset sixth seed Dave Chisnall 3-1 to set up a meeting with Nathan Aspinall, who averaged 103.77 in beating Andrew Gilding 3-0.

Ryan Searle overcame 10th seed Chris Dobey 3-1 to set up a meeting with Jonny Clayton, who hit a remarkable 112.77 average in a 3-1 victory over Martin Schindler.