THE FUSE

Defending champion Luke Humphries produced a perfect leg of darts on his way to a hard-fought win over Luke Woodhouse in the last 16 of the World Masters - after world champion Luke Littler also progressed to the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Humphries, 30, delighted the Milton Keynes crowd by hitting a nine-darter to take a 2-0 lead, but fellow Englishman Woodhouse battled back to level the tie at 3-3.

The world number two then missed three darts for the match, allowing 37-year-old Woodhouse to force a last-leg shootout. Humphries finally sealed his 4-3 victory by taking out double 10.

"It was a really close game," said Humphries, who faces Dutchman Danny Noppert next.

"I would rather win the game and not hit a nine-darter than hit a nine-darter and lose, so I am just glad I did both."

Littler, meanwhile, safely made it through to the last eight by beating fellow Englishman Ross Smith.

The 19-year-old had a tough time on Friday against Mike de Decker before defeating the Belgian 3-2.

But against Smith, 37, he averaged nearly 108 to win 4-1 and meet Northern Ireland's Josh Rock in the next round.

Littler, who is aiming to lift a first Masters title, said he was glad to get through, adding: "It was far better than last night - that is what I had to do against Ross."

Rock, 24, beat Rob Cross 4-1 in the opening match of the evening session to reach the last eight for the first time.

Noppert thrashed former Masters champion Stephen Bunting 4-0 and was a level above during their contest, sealing the opening set with an average of 107 and winning four sets in a row to take the second.

In the other last-16 ties, world number three Gian van Veen defeated Nathan Aspinall 4-2, with the Dutchman facing James Wade in the quarter-finals, after the Englishman beat Scot Gary Anderson 4-3.

Gerwyn Price was two sets down against compatriot Jonny Clayton but triumphed 4-3, while England's Chris Dobey also overcame Damon Heta 4-3 to set up a tie with Welshman Price in the last eight.