Littler & Humphries dominant at European Championship

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are the top two ranked players in the world

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries both breezed into the second round of the European Championship in Germany with emphatic victories.

World champion Littler claimed a 6-1 win over his childhood hero Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.

The 18-year-old finished with an average of 98.97 and a checkout success of 46.2% as the five-time world champion was overwhelmed.

Humphries was even more emphatic at Dortmund's Westfalenhalle as he thrashed Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski 6-0.

The current world number one averaged 109.98 as he threw five 180s, sealing victory with a 161 checkout.

Littler, who faces James Wade next, will become world number one for the first time in his career should he win the tournament.

Wade cruised to a 6-1 win over Mike de Decker, while Cameron Menzies claimed a 6-3 win over fellow Scot Gary Anderson and Ricardo Pietreczko edged a 6-4 win over Josh Rock.

Nathan Aspinall continued his recent good form with a 6-1 win over Rob Cross, while Danny Noppert beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3.

Friday's round one results

Niko Springer 3-6 Jermaine Wattimena

Gary Anderson 3-6 Cameron Menzies

James Wade 6-1 Mike de Decker

Josh Rock 4-6 Ricardo Pietreczko

Luke Humphries 6-0 Krzysztof Ratajski

Luke Littler 6-1 Raymond van Barneveld

Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Rob Cross

Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-6 Danny Noppert