Littler into Euros last eight, holder Van Veen out

Luke Littler had a three-dart average of 114.47 as he beat Nathan Aspinall in the last 16 of the European Championship, while defending champion Gian van Veen was knocked out.

World champion Littler raced into a 4-0 lead in Dortmund and, while Aspinall recovered to 5-4, he won the best-of-19 match 10-5.

"I felt really good from the off," 19-year-old Littler told ITV. "I was gutted I gave him that leg going into the break at 4-1 - I wanted 5-0.

"But, as Nathan does, he's always there and is going to come back at you so I couldn't afford to drop off."

Littler has faced hostile treatment in Germany in the past and there was an incident midway through his match against Aspinall which caused a short pause in play.

"Just before I went for bull on the 126, the front table just decided to bang really loud on the table," said the world number one.

"The guy that did it looked up, I pointed at him and said, 'That's you'.

"Then he just picked up his pen, started writing on his little 180 card and didn't look up. So, he knew what he'd done.

"But that's the first thing all weekend, the crowd's been very good.

"I've not been to Germany this year, apart from Berlin and Frankfurt, so it's only the third time they've seen me.

"Obviously I want a good reception because I want to be doing European Tours next year in Germany.

"Whereas if they're not good to me, then I won't go. But so far, so good, and with the way I'm playing, hopefully they like it and I can produce maybe a bit better tomorrow."

Littler will play Krzysztof Ratajski, who beat Kevin Doets 10-8, in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Earlier, Van Veen fell to a 10-6 defeat by Luke Woodhouse in the last match of the afternoon session.

Woodhouse, who threw a nine-darter in his first-round win, had a three-dart average of 95.34 compared with Van Veen's 91.47 and hit six 180s.

He will play Ross Smith in the last eight after his fellow Englishman beat Damon Heta 10-7.

Gerwyn Price also made it through with a 10-4 victory against Cameron Menzies and will face Stephen Bunting.

Bunting played Kim Huybrechts, who won his first-round match after coming in as a late replacement for the ill Luke Humphries, and was a comfortable 10-3 winner.

Jonny Clayton overcame Josh Rock 10-8 and will play Martin Schindler, who was a 10-4 victor against Jermaine Wattimena.

Afternoon session

Gerwyn Price 10-4 Cameron Menzies

Stephen Bunting 10-3 Kim Huybrechts

Ross Smith 10-7 Damon Heta

Luke Woodhouse 10-6 Gian van Veen

Evening session

Krzysztof Ratajski 10-8 Kevin Doets

Martin Schindler 10-4 Jermaine Wattimena

Luke Littler 10-5 Nathan Aspinall

Jonny Clayton 10-8 Josh Rock