UK Open: Luke Littler into semi-final with 10-4 win over Gian van Veen in Minehead

Luke Littler cruised into the semi-finals of the UK Open with a commanding 10-4 victory over Gian van Veen in Minehead.

The 18-year-old PDC world champion held a 3-2 lead after the first five legs of the best-of-19 contest as the Dutchman attempted to keep pace.

However, from that point Littler was completely dominant in a match in which he threw seven 180s and averaged an impressive 107.30 to Van Veen’s 99.82.

“Myself and Gian have played many times, both our throws suit each other and we just like to get on with it,” Littler told ITV4. “That certainly helped me.

“I am very happy with my performance. It’s another win and I’m back tonight for the final session.”

Littler will find out his opponent in the last four of the tournament, which has a top prize of £110,000 for the winner, when the draw is made once all four quarter-finals have been completed.

Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock will also be in the semi-final draw after he saw off a brief fightback from Nathan Aspinall to clinch a 10-7 win over the Englishman in his quarter-final.

They were later joined by Wales’ Jonny Clayton, who claimed a tense 10-8 win over former world champion Michael Smith.

World number one Luke Humphries takes on James Wade in the last quarter-final.