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 Englishman continued to astonish analysts with his statistical output, posting a staggering 110.88 three‑dart average, hitting sixteen 180s, and converting half of his double attempts. These numbers sit alongside an earlier 113‑average and a nine‑dart finish against Nathan Aspinall, plus 109‑average wins over Niko Springer and Josh Rock in the quarter‑finals, underscoring a run that has been nothing short of relentless.
Beyond the raw figures, Littler has now amassed £3 million in prize money, a milestone no other PDC player has ever reached. The financial gap between him and the world No.
2, Luke Humphries, stands at roughly £2 million, highlighting the speed at which Littler has ascended the sport’s hierarchy. He also harbours a historic ambition: to become the first player in a decade to defend the Blackpool title, a feat last achieved by Michael van Gerwen in 2016. Littler’s broader agenda for 2026 is equally ambitious. He already holds four major crowns – the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League and the Masters – and he is the defending champion in three more events: the Matchplay, the Grand Slam, the Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals.
A win in Blackpool would bring him one step closer to a clean‑sweep of all the premier trophies on the calendar, a rare accomplishment that would cement his status among the greats. Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price – nicknamed the "Iceman" – is back in the Blackpool final for the first time since 2022 after a solid 17-10 triumph over Dutch hopeful Gian van Veen.
The Welshman, who has yet to claim the Phil Taylor trophy, used a combination of steady scoring and timely finishes to move back into the world No. 4 spot, overtaking fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton for the top national ranking. "I’m delighted to be Wales’ number 1 again," Price told Sky Sports, adding that the early part of the season had seen him playing some of his best darts.
The semi‑finals themselves were a showcase of high‑octane darts. Littler began his encounter with van Duijvenbode in dominant fashion, opening with an 11‑dart leg followed by a flawless 12‑dart finish, and quickly establishing a 4‑1 lead. He never looked back, piling on seven 180s, twelve 140s, and only three visits without a treble as he surged to an 8‑2 advantage.
By the end of the second session his average sat at an eye‑popping 117.10, just 0.9 points shy of Phil Taylor’s Matchplay record of 114.99. Even when he dropped the 11th leg, Littler responded with a 130 checkout (T20, T20, D5) to finish the session in style.
In the third session Littler’s momentum continued. He raced to a 16‑4 lead, needing only one more leg to seal his place in the final. A brief lapse in his double conversion allowed van Duijvenbode to claw the match back to the 22nd leg, where Littler missed five match darts. Undeterred, he produced two consecutive maximums, set up a finish after 12 darts and finally clinched the match with a decisive checkout, prompting an uproar from the Blackpool crowd.
Price’s path to the final was equally impressive. After taking an early 4‑1 lead over Van Veen, the Welshman weathered a comeback that saw the Dutchman level to 6‑4. Price then unleashed a string of five consecutive breaks of throw, extending his advantage to 10‑7. In the decisive fifth session he turned up the heat, celebrating each big dart with his trademark "booyah" and maintaining an average above 111.
Four straight legs and a clinical finish on the 27th leg sealed his 17‑10 victory and guaranteed his spot opposite Littler in the championship match. The final, scheduled for later that evening, will be a best‑of‑35‑leg showdown between the sport’s rising star and its seasoned veteran. With Littler eyeing a historic back‑to‑back Blackpool triumph and a place in the record books alongside legends such as Phil Taylor, and Price determined to finally lift the coveted trophy and re‑establish himself among the elite, the contest promises to be a defining moment for both players and for darts fans worldwide. Beyond the headline battle, the 2026 World Matchplay weekend also features the fifth edition of the Women’s World Matchplay, where defending champion Lisa Ashton will attempt to retain her crown against a hungry Beau Greaves, who is seeking her third title in four years.
The event, broadcast live from 1 p.m. on Sky Sports Action, adds another layer of excitement to an already packed darts calendar. For viewers, the action will be streamed live on Sky Sports from 7.30 p.m., with the final expected to kick off around 8.15 p.m.
Fans can also follow real‑time updates, video highlights and expert analysis via Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel. As the darts world waits with bated breath, one thing is clear: the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay will be remembered as a tournament where a young prodigy strives to rewrite history while a seasoned champion seeks redemption, delivering a drama that epitomises the very spirit of the sport.