Gian van Veen earned a place in the semi‑final of the World Matchplay, where he will meet Gerwyn Price, after a dramatic 16-13 victory over James Wade in Blackpool. The quarter‑final began slowly, with both competitors far from their best, but the match surged into life when Wade, trailing 11-7, produced a run of four successive legs to level the score.
From that point the quality of play rose sharply, with both players hitting high‑scoring checkouts exceeding 100 points. Van Veen, whose average for the night was a modest 93, managed to silence the crowd’s disapproval by clinching the final two legs, sealing his first appearance in the last four of the tournament. The upcoming semi‑final will be a stern test for the world No.
3, as Price entered the match having posted a 102.78 average and recorded ten 180s in his 16-12 win over Ross Smith earlier in the day. Price had to recover from a 12-8 deficit, then rattled off four straight legs to force a comeback and reach his first World Matchplay semi‑final since 2022.
The other semi‑final will feature defending champion Luke Littler against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who also made his maiden semi‑final appearance at this event. Price’s run to the semi‑final marks his fourth televised semi‑final of the season, adding to his performances at the World Masters, the UK Open and the Premier League. In his quarter‑final against Smith, Price opened with three legs of his own, highlighted by a 117 checkout to hold his throw in the second leg and a burst of three consecutive legs from the fourth onward. Smith answered with a rare 12‑dart finish, but Price’s consistency kept him ahead.
Smith tried to stay in the match, taking out a 100 checkout to avoid falling 8‑5 down and later missing a chance to level the score. The two players exchanged breaks of throw, with Price eventually pulling ahead by a three‑leg margin. In the latter stages of the Smith‑Price duel, Price produced a series of spectacular finishes: a 68 checkout followed by a 13‑dart finish that leveled the match, then a 13‑dart finish of his own to regain the lead, and a 121 checkout that included a bullseye.
He capped the victory with a 14‑dart finish, sealing a 16‑12 win. After the match, Price told Sky Sports, "Ross played a decent game as well, so it’s nice to play well when someone else is playing well. It gives you a bit of 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." Van Veen’s quarter‑final against Wade was a roller‑coaster.
The early stages saw both players averaging around 90, with Van Veen hitting a 160 checkout to go 9‑6 up at the third interval. He missed a few darts that could have extended his lead, but recovered in the next two legs to move to 11‑7. Wade then sparked a comeback, taking out a 79 finish on the bullseye and winning the subsequent leg. He followed that with a 121 finish on the bullseye, holding his throw for a fourth straight leg and bringing the match to 12‑12.
At 12‑12, Van Veen responded with a 118 checkout, the first of two consecutive legs he won to put himself back in the driver’s seat. Wade answered with a 121 finish to break back, but Van Veen then hit a 75 checkout to get within one leg of victory. He completed the win with a flawless 13‑dart finish, moving one step closer to a possible rise to world No. 2.
Reflecting on his performance, Van Veen admitted to Sky Sports, "It felt very poor! My scoring was so terrible.
I was lucky James wasn’t scoring as well and my finishing got me through. A win is a win. The 118 finish – I really needed it.
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 matches on Saturday.
The winners will then contest a best‑of‑35 final on Sunday. Defending champion Luke Littler will aim to retain his title against Dirk van Duijvenbode, while the first semi‑final pits Price against the surging Van Veen. Darts 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.
For those who prefer streaming, the matches are also available through NOW and other online platforms. The tournament promises high‑octane finishes, strategic battles and the potential for new legends to emerge as the world’s top players vie for the coveted Matchplay trophy.