Luke Littler has reached the Players Championship quarter-finals by beating Ricardo Pietreczko 10-6 in Minehead.

The 18-year-old was made to work for his spot in the last eight as he came back from 5-3 down.

Once Littler leveled the score he pulled clear, only allowing the German to win one leg to reduce the deficit to 8-6.

Littler, who was beaten by Luke Humphries in the final last year, says he is “definitely chasing” to win the competition for the first time.

“This is one I’ve not won and everyone does know that,” he told ITV. “I’m definitely chasing for it so hopefully I can come back tomorrow and get another win.”

Littler averaged 102.67 to Pietreczko’s 90.41, and threw six maximum 180s to his opponent’s two.

Earlier in the day, he reached the last 16 with a composed 6-3 success against Ross Smith, never letting his opponent take the lead.

A 10-6 victory for Gerwyn Price against Martin Schindler sealed the Welshman’s progress following a 6-1 triumph over Sebastian Bialecki.