Gian van Veen earned a place in the World Matchplay semi‑final, where he will meet Gerwyn Price, after a dramatic 16‑13 victory over James Wade in Blackpool. The quarter‑final started slowly for both competitors, each struggling to find their rhythm in the opening exchanges.
The turning point arrived when Wade, trailing 11‑7, produced a remarkable run of four straight legs to bring the match level, injecting fresh energy into the contest. From that moment the quality of play rose sharply.
Both men began hitting high‑scoring checkouts, with several finishes exceeding 100 points. Van Veen, whose average for the match was a modest 93, managed to quiet the jeering crowd by clinching the final two legs, sealing his first appearance in the last four of this prestigious event.
Looking ahead, the world No. 3 will need to raise his game for the semi‑final against Price, who posted a 102.78 average and recorded ten 180s in his 16‑12 quarter‑final win over Ross Smith.
Price had surrendered a 12‑8 lead before rattling off four consecutive legs to reach his first World Matchplay semi‑final since 2022. The other semi‑final on Saturday will feature defending champion Luke Littler against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who also made his inaugural last‑four appearance. Price’s run to the semi‑final marks his fourth televised semi‑final of the season, following strong performances at the World Masters, the UK Open and the Premier League. In his match with Smith, Price opened with three legs on his throw, including a 117 checkout in the second leg, and then produced a three‑leg streak from the fourth leg onward.
Smith responded with a perfect 12‑dart leg, but Price continued to dominate, eventually sealing the win with a 14‑dart finish. After the match, Price told Sky Sports, "Ross played a decent game as well, so it’s nice to play well when your opponent is playing well. It gives you confidence going into the next round.
When he got back to 12‑12 I thought ‘here we go again’, but I rode off four legs on the bounce. The 91 double‑double got the blood boiling. I’m thankful I played pretty decent tonight." The quarter‑final between Van Veen and Wade was a slower affair in the early stages, with both players averaging around 90. Van Veen broke the deadlock by hitting a 160 checkout to lead 9‑6 at the end of the third interval.
He missed a few darts that could have extended his lead, but recovered by taking the next two legs to go 11‑7 ahead. Wade sparked a comeback, first with a 79 finish on the bull, then a 121 checkout that gave him a fourth consecutive leg on his throw, leveling the match at 12‑12.
Van Veen responded with an 118 checkout, taking the second of two back‑to‑back legs. Wade answered with a 121 finish to break back, but Van Veen answered with a 75 checkout, moving within a leg of victory. He then completed the win with a flawless 13‑dart leg, moving one step closer to a potential rise to world No.
2. Reflecting on his performance, Van Veen said to Sky Sports, "It felt very poor!
My scoring was terrible. I was lucky James wasn’t scoring as well and my finishing got me through. A win is a win. The 118 finish was crucial.
It was a tight battle but I’m glad I got the job done. Hopefully tomorrow I will be a lot better." The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues at the iconic Winter Gardens, with the semi‑finals scheduled as best‑of‑33 legs and the final on Sunday as best‑of‑35.
Defending champion Luke Littler will aim to retain his title against Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Price prepares to face Van Veen in what promises to be a high‑quality encounter. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning at 7:30 pm on Sky Sports Action and around 9:00 pm on Sky Sports Main Event. The tournament showcases some of the sport’s biggest names and emerging talents, offering a blend of precision, nerve‑breaking finishes and dramatic comebacks that define elite darts competition.