Gian van Veen fought his way into a semi-final encounter with Gerwyn Price at the World Matchplay after a dramatic 16-13 victory over James Wade in Blackpool. The opening phase of the quarter‑final was far from spectacular for either competitor, with both players missing chances and producing modest scores. The match truly ignited when Wade, trailing 11-7, launched a remarkable comeback, stringing together four successive legs to level the score at 11-11 and inject fresh energy into the contest.
From that point on, the quality of play rose sharply. Both men began to hit high‑scoring checkouts exceeding 100 points, turning the encounter into a showcase of precision and nerve. Van Veen, whose average for the whole match was a modest 93, managed to silence the occasional boos from the crowd by clinching the final two legs, thereby securing his first ever place in the last four of a World Matchplay event.
Looking ahead, the world number three will need to raise his game even further when he meets Gerwyn Price in the semi‑final. Price arrived at the quarter‑final having posted an impressive 102.78 average and a ten‑dart maximum in his 16-12 win over Ross Smith. In that match, Price recovered from a 12-8 deficit by winning four legs in a row, demonstrating the kind of resilience that will be essential against a hungry Van Veen.
Price’s run to the semi‑final marks his fourth televised semi‑final of the current season, following appearances at the World Masters, the UK Open and the Premier League. His victory over Smith was characterised by a series of high‑pressure finishes: after taking the first three legs on his throw, Price hit a 117 checkout to hold his second leg, then produced a three‑leg streak that was briefly interrupted when Smith answered with a perfect 12‑dart finish. Price responded with a 100 checkout to stay within striking distance, before Smith missed a chance to level the match, allowing the Welshman to claim a third break and a three‑leg advantage. The two competitors continued to exchange breaks of throw, with Price eventually edging ahead in a fourth consecutive session.
Smith fought back, taking out a 68 and then a stunning 13‑dart finish during a four‑leg run that levelled the scores once more. Price answered with another 13‑dart finish, followed by a 121 checkout that included a bullseye, and later sealed the match with a 14‑dart finish after a 91 double‑double. 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. For him to get back to 12‑12, I thought ‘here we go again’, but thankfully 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 less fluid in the early stages, with both players averaging around 90 in the first mini‑sessions. Van Veen did, however, produce a spectacular 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, hitting a 79 finish on the bullseye and subsequently taking the next leg.
He followed that with a 121 finish and held his throw for a fourth straight leg, bringing the match to 12‑12. Van Veen responded by taking out 118 to win the next two legs, putting him within a single leg of victory.
Wade answered with a 121 finish to break back, but Van Veen then hit a 75 checkout and, with confidence building, finished the match with a flawless 13‑dart finish. The win moved him one step closer to a potential rise to world number two. 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 historic Winter Gardens, with the semi‑finals scheduled for Saturday and the final set for Sunday. Both semi‑finals will be contested over a best‑of‑33 format, meaning the first player to reach 17 legs will advance to the best‑of‑35 final. Defending champion Luke Littler will seek back‑to‑back titles when he faces Dirk van Duijvenbode, who is also making his first appearance in the last four of this event.
Meanwhile, Price will test Van Veen’s mettle in the other semi‑final. 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 NOW platform offers live darts alongside a range of other top‑level sports. The tournament promises more thrilling moments, high‑scoring finishes and the ever‑present drama that makes the World Matchplay a highlight of the darts calendar.