Luke Littler delivered a masterclass performance, cruising to a 17-5 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode and earning his place in the World Matchplay final where he will meet Gerwyn Price at Blackpool's iconic Winter Gardens. The young Englishman’s numbers were nothing short of spectacular: he posted a 110.88 three‑dart average, launched sixteen 180s and hit his doubles at a 50 per cent success rate.
Those figures sit alongside an earlier 113‑average and a nine‑dart finish against Nathan Aspinall, as well as 109‑average wins over Niko Springer and Josh Rock in the quarter‑finals. Beyond the raw statistics, Littler has now amassed £3 million in prize money, becoming the first player in PDC history to cross that milestone.
The financial gap between him and his nearest rival, Luke Humphries, now stands at roughly £2 million, underscoring his rapid ascent to the world No 2 ranking. His ambition is clear: to become the first competitor in a decade to retain the Blackpool title, a feat last achieved by Michael van Gerwen in 2016. A victory in the Matchplay would also bring Littler one step closer to an unprecedented clean‑sweep of major trophies in 2026.
He already holds the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League and the Masters, and he is defending champion in the Matchplay, the Grand Slam, the Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals. Achieving all of these would place him alongside the sport’s legends.
Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price – often dubbed “The Iceman” – is making his first appearance in a Blackpool final since 2022 after a convincing 17‑10 win over Gian van Veen. The Welshman, who has yet to capture the Phil Taylor trophy, will be looking to add the Matchplay crown to his résumé and to climb back into the world top‑four, a position he reclaimed by overtaking Jonny Clayton for Wales’ No 1 spot. Price’s semi‑final was a study in resilience. He opened strongly, taking early breaks and delivering a smooth 125 checkout in the fifth leg to race to a 4‑1 lead.
Though Van Veen fought back to narrow the gap to 6‑4, Price responded with a flurry of breaks that pushed the score to 10‑7 in his favour. In the decisive fifth session he turned up the pressure, celebrating each big dart with his trademark “booyah” and averaging over 111. Four consecutive legs later he sealed the match with a tops finish on the 27th leg. Littler’s path to the final was equally dominant.
He started the semi‑final with an 11‑dart leg followed by a 12‑dart leg, quickly establishing a 4‑1 advantage. By the end of the second session he was 8‑2 up, delivering relentless scoring that left Van Duijvenbode with little chance to recover. His tally included seven 180s, twelve 140s, only three visits without a treble, and a 117.10 average. Although he slipped a leg at 11‑0, he rebounded with a 130 checkout (T20, T20, D5) to finish the session.
Even in what he described as his “weakest” session, he was just 0.9 points shy of Phil Taylor’s Matchplay record average of 114.99. The third session saw Littler surge to a 16‑4 lead, needing just one more leg to clinch the match.
A brief lapse in his double‑finishing allowed Van Duijvenbode to force a 22nd leg, during which Littler missed five match darts. He recovered spectacularly, hitting back‑to‑back maximums and, after setting up tops in 12 darts, sealed the win with a decisive checkout, sending the Blackpool crowd into a frenzy.
Both finalists have spoken about their aspirations. Littler told Sky Sports, “I want to stay dominant, keep winning, and eventually break Phil Taylor’s record for the longest run at world No 1. I’m focused on defending my titles and, if possible, achieving back‑to‑back victories in Blackpool.” Price added, “I’m thrilled to be Wales’ No 1 again. It’s a matter of pride, and getting back into the top four feels great.
Reaching the final is a big step, and I’ll give it everything I’ve got.” The upcoming final, a best‑of‑35‑leg showdown, promises a clash of contrasting styles: Littler’s clinical precision against Price’s fiery intensity. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 7:30 pm on Sunday, with the final expected to start around 8:15 pm. Fans can also stream the action via NOW. In addition to the men’s final, the fifth edition of the Women’s World Matchplay will be staged on the same afternoon, featuring defending champion Lisa Ashton and three‑time finalist Beau Greaves, who aims for a third title in four years.
The tournament continues to showcase the growing depth and diversity of professional darts. Overall, the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay is shaping up to be a landmark event, with Luke Littler poised to make history and Gerwyn Price eager to add another major trophy to his collection. Whether Littler can complete his clean‑sweep of 2026 majors or Price can finally claim the coveted Phil Taylor trophy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the world will be watching.