51�Թ�

Less than two months on from saying he felt "emotionless" on the oche due to a relentless playing schedule that had made darts a "chore", the world number one was full of emotions.

They should form a formidable duo but it is only a matter of time before they will be battling it out again on the oche in a major tournament.

However, the 41-year-old, who won the tournament in 2008, 2011 and 2021, melted on the oche in the face of a dazzling Littler masterclass.

There was no hanging about when the pair reached the oche as they traded 11-dart legs before Littler's 161 checkout made it 2-2.

They are set to renew their rivalry again at the oche in Belfast on Thursday as they will face each other in their opening quarter-final of this season's Premier League.