Luke Littler stayed on course to defend his World Matchplay title in Blackpool as he swept past Josh Rock 16-7 to move into the semi-finals.

Double world champion Littler had hit a nine-dart finish in the first leg of his victory over Nathan Aspinall in the last round at the Winter Gardens and took the match away from Rock after the first interval with a dominant display, averaging close to 110.

Rock had broken in the opening leg before Littler responded to take a 3-2 lead, having landed five 180s.

Both men broke throw again after the interval as the match levelled up at 5-5 before Littler won three straight legs on the back of a clinical 108 checkout and then moved 10-5 ahead at the next break.

Littler’s relentless heavy scoring saw him soon close to within one leg of victory, which he took on his favoured double 10 as Rock’s challenge faded out.

“(It was) another brilliant game for myself,” Littler, who hit 17 maximums and landed 53 per cent on his doubles, told Sky Sports. “I have gone 109, 113, 109 again (match averages), so I have just got to keep it going.

“Fair play to Josh, he gave me a really good game there. I think it was the third session where I won all five legs. I kind of got myself into that lead and I just had to stay there and got the job done.”

Littler goes on to face Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, who saw off Gary Anderson 16-13 in the night’s opening match to make the World Matchplay semi-finals for the first time.

Van Duijvenbode – who knocked out compatriot Michael van Gerwen in the last round – looked to be in control against Anderson, the 2018 champion, with a run of six consecutive legs as he moved ahead 14-6.

Scotsman Anderson, though, mounted a spirited fightback and landed a monster 154 checkout before reducing the deficit back to 15-13, but Van Duijvenbode eventually got over the line on a third match dart when he pinned double 10.

Earlier, Cameron Menzies posted an update on his condition having withdrawn from Wednesday’s match against Ross Smith after feeling faint.

Menzies pledged to be back “very soon” and wrote on Facebook: “I’m grateful to the medical team for looking after me, to Ross for checking on me, and to everyone at the Winter Gardens for their support. A big good luck to Ross for the rest of the tournament. I wish him all the best.”

Smith will play Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals on Friday.