Luke Littler delivered a masterclass performance, cruising to a 17-5 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode and securing his place in the World Matchplay final where he will meet Gerwyn Price at Blackpool's iconic Winter Gardens. The young English star continued to astonish fans and analysts alike with a staggering 110.88 three‑dart average, a remarkable tally of sixteen 180s, and a flawless 50 percent conversion rate on double attempts throughout the semi‑final.
These numbers sit alongside an even higher 113‑plus average and a perfect nine‑dart leg recorded in his earlier clash with Nathan Aspinall, as well as impressive 109 averages in his quarter‑final wins over Niko Springer and Josh Rock. Beyond the raw statistics, Littler achieved a historic financial milestone by becoming the first player in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) history to amass £3 million in prize money.
That achievement creates a £2 million gap between him and his nearest rival, Luke Humphries, who sits second in the world rankings. Littler is now eyeing a rare back‑to‑back World Matchplay triumph – a feat not seen since Michael van Gerwen repeated his success in 2016 – and hopes to add another chapter to his rapidly growing legacy.
The stakes are high for Littler, who is already on a quest to sweep every major title on the 2026 calendar. He currently holds the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League and the Masters, and he is defending champion at the Matchplay, the Grand Slam, the Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals. A victory in Blackpool would bring him one step closer to completing a clean sweep of all the sport's premier trophies in a single season.
Across the arena, Gerwyn Price – known to fans as the "Iceman" – was also making his way to the final after a convincing 17‑10 win over Dutch qualifier Gian van Veen. The Welshman, who has yet to claim the coveted Phil Taylor trophy, returned to a Blackpool final for the first time since 2022 and used the win to climb back into the world No. 4 spot, overtaking fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton for the top national ranking. Price expressed his delight at reclaiming the Welsh number‑one position, noting that the early part of the season had seen him in superb form and that the ranking boost was a welcome bonus to his final‑appearance ambitions.
Littler's semi‑final began with an explosive start, opening with an 11‑dart leg followed immediately by a 12‑dart finish, propelling him to a 4‑1 lead. He continued to dominate, reaching an 8‑2 advantage in the second session and leaving van Duijvenbode with little chance to recover. During that stretch Littler recorded seven 180s, twelve 140s, and only three visits without a treble, posting a 117.10 average. Although he slipped slightly in the third session – dropping the 11th leg before rattling off another series of high‑scoring visits and sealing the session with a 130 checkout (T20, T20, D5) – his performance remained just shy of Phil Taylor's Matchplay record average of 114.99.
By the time the match entered its decisive phase, Littler was up 16‑4 and needed only one more leg to clinch the final. A brief lapse in his double finishing allowed van Duijvenbode to force a 22nd leg, during which Littler missed five match darts. He recovered composure, hit back‑to‑back maximums to energise the crowd, and after setting up a finish with twelve darts, he finally sealed the win with a clinical checkout, confirming his spot in the championship match. Price's path to the final was equally impressive.
He opened strongly against Van Veen, taking two early breaks of throw and delivering a silky 125 checkout in the fifth leg to race to a 4‑1 lead. Van Veen fought back to 6‑4, but Price responded with a flurry of breaks that pushed the score to 10‑7 in his favour. The fifth session saw Price unleash his trademark "booyah" celebration after each big dart, as he averaged over 111 and captured four consecutive legs, ultimately finishing the match on a decisive 27th leg.
The upcoming final, scheduled for the evening of the same day, will be a best‑of‑35‑leg showdown between the two in‑form competitors. With Littler seeking to become the first player in a decade to retain the Matchplay title and Price aiming to finally add the Phil Taylor trophy to his cabinet, the encounter promises high drama, elite scoring and a battle for historic records. Sky Sports will broadcast the action live from 7:30 p.m., with the final expected to kick off around 8:15 p.m. Viewers can also stream the match via NOW or other authorized platforms.
Beyond the men's final, the day's programme also featured the fifth edition of the Women's World Matchplay, which began at 1 p.m. on Sky Sports Action.
Defending champion Lisa Ashton returned to defend her title, while rising star Beau Greaves looked to secure a third victory in four years, underscoring the growing depth and excitement across both men's and women's darts. Littler summed up his ambitions after the semi‑final, telling Sky Sports: "I want to stay dominant, keep winning, and stay at the top. I want to break Phil Taylor's record for the longest run as world No 1, which is three or four years. We go back tomorrow and aim for back‑to‑back titles." His confidence reflects not only his recent achievements but also his clear intention to rewrite the sport's history books.
As the night approaches, fans worldwide will be watching to see whether the prodigious talent of Luke Littler can cement his place among darts' all‑time greats, or whether Gerwyn Price will finally claim the elusive Matchplay crown and add another prestigious trophy to his collection.