Defending champion Luke Littler maintained his hopes of becoming world number one with a dominant win against Wessel Nijman in the last 16 of the Grand Slam of Darts, as Michael van Gerwen was knocked out.

Littler, who would usurp Luke Humphries, external at the top of the rankings if he reaches the final in Wolverhampton, raced into a 5-0 lead before his Dutch opponent got on the scoreboard.

Nijman reduced his deficit to 6-3 but, after missing three darts at a double to move two legs behind, found himself 7-3 down.

World champion Littler went on to win 10-4, finishing with an average of 105.38, and will play Josh Rock in the quarter-finals.

“I have my eyes on everything,” Littler told Sky Sports. “The title, world number one – if I get to the final I’m world number one – but we’ve just got to take it game by game.”