Luke Littler delivered a dominant performance at the World Matchplay, cruising past Josh Rock with a 16-7 victory and booking a semi‑final clash with Dirk van Duijvenbode, who survived a nail‑biting encounter with Gary Anderson. Littler's win not only propels him into the tournament’s second‑most crucial round but also puts him on course to become the first player since Michael van Gerwen a decade ago to claim back‑to‑back titles at this event. The 19‑year‑old English prodigy posted an impressive 109.57 three‑dart average, hammered 17 maximums (180s) and hit doubles at a 53 % success rate.
"Another brilliant game for myself. I've gone 109, 113, 109 again, so I've just got to keep it going," Littler told Sky Sports after the match. He added, "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 and Rock have a recent history in the tournament; a year earlier they met in the semi‑finals, where Littler edged out an 18‑15 thriller that included a nine‑dart finish.
This time, after a tightly contested opening ten legs, Littler seized control and never looked back. Rock started strongly, matching each of Littler's breaks of throw and even hitting a dazzling 129 checkout when the score was dead‑locked at 5‑5. Yet Littler responded by running five consecutive legs in the second session – a stretch during which Rock failed to land a single double.
The Englishman extended his dominance to a run of seven straight legs, leaving Rock scrambling for a foothold. By the time the score reached 13‑6, Rock managed only two holds of throw. The decisive moment arrived in the 23rd leg when Littler broke Rock’s throw again, finishing the leg with a clean 44. With his third match dart, the defending champion secured the leg, took his favourite D10 and sealed the victory.
On the opposite side of the draw, Dutch contender Dirk van Duijvenbode fought off a spectacular comeback from Gary Anderson to claim a 16‑13 win and his first ever semi‑final appearance in Blackpool. Van Duijvenbode had been leading 15‑8 and was just one leg away from the match when Anderson roared back, averaging over 114 and stringing together five winning legs, highlighted by a massive 154 checkout.
It appeared the former world champion might pull off a miracle. However, van Duijvenbode found his rhythm at the crucial moment, hitting his third double ten to close out the match.
"To be fair the break couldn't come at a worse moment. You just know Gary loves the game. He never gives up," van Duijvenbode said.
"He's probably the best in the world when he hits the trebles. I expected the 154. He didn't miss, but I always think my opponent will hit it. At some point I felt nerves in my stomach." The opening session saw van Duijvenbode take two breaks of throw and finish the first five legs with a 107 checkout, establishing a 4‑1 lead.
The second session mirrored the first; another break of throw followed by a clutch 112 checkout pushed the Dutchman to an 8‑3 advantage. Anderson, refusing to surrender, responded with a three‑leg run that included a decisive bullseye finish for 84, narrowing the gap. Van Duijvenbode held his own throw to keep the score at 9‑6, but Anderson kept fighting, forcing a tense back‑and‑forth.
The turning point came when van Duijvenbode caught fire in the next session, taking all five legs while Anderson’s form slipped. Anderson’s throw was broken three times, and with the score at 14‑6, a miracle seemed the only hope for the former champion. Though Anderson displayed the class that has made him a legend, van Duijvenbode seized the critical moments and clinched the win. The quarter‑finals will continue on Friday, with live coverage from 7.30 pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action.
Returning to the draw, Gian van Veen will meet James Wade for a second consecutive year, while World No 3 Gerwyn Price faces Ross Smith, who advanced after Cameron Menzies withdrew due to illness. As the tournament progresses, the question on everyone’s mind is who will lift the World Matchplay trophy this year. Luke Littler, now the defending champion, will look to cement his status as a rising star, while Dirk van Duijvenbode aims to complete a breakthrough performance.
Fans can follow every dart, every checkout, and every dramatic turn of events on Sky Sports or stream the action through NOW for a seamless viewing experience.