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 relatively tame, with neither competitor displaying their peak form. The match truly ignited when Wade, trailing 11-7, launched a remarkable run of four straight legs to level the scoreline, injecting fresh energy into the contest.

From that point on, the quality of play rose sharply. Both men began to hit high‑scoring checkouts, regularly posting ton‑plus finishes.

Van Veen, whose overall average for the match settled at a modest 93, managed to quiet the jeering crowd by clinching the final two legs, thereby securing his first appearance in the last four of the tournament. Looking ahead, the world number three will need to raise his game even further when he meets Price in the semi‑final. Price arrived at the quarter‑final stage having posted an impressive 102.78 average and delivering ten maximums in a 16-12 win over Ross Smith.

In that earlier match, Price had surrendered a 12-8 lead but responded with a four‑leg streak to force a deciding session, marking his first World Matchplay semi‑final since 2022. The other semi‑final on Saturday will feature defending champion Luke Littler against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who also reached the last four for the first time. Price’s run to the semi‑final adds to a remarkable season in which he has already reached the televised semi‑final stage of four major events – the World Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League and now the World Matchplay. His late‑stage scoring surge was evident in the Smith match: the first three legs went with the throw, Price hit a 117 finish to hold his throw in the second leg, and then produced a three‑leg burst from the fourth leg onward.

Smith answered with a flawless 12‑dart finish, but Price’s momentum proved too strong. Smith attempted to stay in the contest, taking out a 100 checkout to avoid falling 8‑5 behind, and later missed a chance to level the match. Price, however, continued to trade breaks of throw, eventually edging a fourth consecutive session.

Smith briefly rallied, hitting a 68 checkout followed by a 13‑dart finish that levelled the scores again. Price responded with a 13‑dart finish of his own, then a 121 checkout that featured a bullseye, and later a 91 double‑double that gave him an 11‑dart break. He sealed the victory with a crisp 14‑dart finish. Reflecting on his performance, 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 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 a slower‑moving affair in the early stages, with both players averaging around 90 during the first mini‑sessions.

Van Veen broke the deadlock by hitting a spectacular 160 checkout, pushing the score to 9‑6 at the third interval. He missed a few darts that could have extended his lead, but recovered quickly, winning 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 bullseye finish and held his throw for a fourth straight leg, bringing the match to 12‑12. Van Veen answered with a 118 checkout, securing the second of two consecutive legs, while Wade replied with a 121 finish to break back.

Van Veen then hit a 75 checkout, narrowing the gap to a single leg, and finally closed the match with a flawless 13‑dart finish, moving one step closer to a potential world number two ranking. Speaking after the win, Van Veen admitted, "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 to determine the finalists for the best‑of‑35 Sunday showdown. Defending champion Luke Littler will seek back‑to‑back titles against Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Price prepares to meet Van Veen in the first 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 without a TV subscription, the tournament can also be streamed via NOW, offering a convenient way to watch darts and other top‑level sport.