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 continued to astonish statisticians with an average of 110.88, a tally of sixteen 180s and a 50% success rate on doubles throughout the semi‑final.
Those numbers sit alongside his earlier feats this tournament – a 113‑plus average and a nine‑dart finish against Nathan Aspinall, plus 109‑average wins over Niko Springer and Josh Rock in the quarter‑finals. Beyond the raw scores, Littler achieved a historic financial milestone, becoming the first player in PDC history to amass £3 million in prize money. He now sits a full £2 million ahead of Luke Humphries, who occupies the world No 2 slot.
The 23‑year‑old is also chasing a rare back‑to‑back title in Blackpool – the last player to do so was Michael van Gerwen in 2016 – and hopes to add another chapter to his rapidly expanding résumé. Littler’s ambitions extend well beyond a single tournament win.
He is targeting a clean sweep of major trophies in 2026, already holding the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League and the Masters. He is also the defending champion of the Matchplay, the Grand Slam, the Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals, meaning a successful defense in Blackpool would cement a truly dominant season.
Across the other side of the bracket, Gerwyn Price – known to fans as the "Iceman" – made his way back to the Blackpool final for the first time since 2022 after a convincing 17‑10 triumph over Dutch hopeful Gian van Veen. The victory lifts Price to world No 4 and re‑establishes him as Wales’ number one, overtaking Jonny Clayton.
Price expressed his delight, saying, "I'm thrilled to be Wales’ No 1 again – it’s a bit of bragging rights for me after a year and a half away from the top spot." Price’s semi‑final was a study in resilience and firepower. He opened strongly, breaking serve twice and sealing a silky 125 checkout in the fifth leg to race to a 4‑1 lead. Van Veen fought back, narrowing the gap to 6‑4, but Price responded with a run of five consecutive breaks, pushing the score to 10‑7.
In the fifth session, Price turned up the intensity, celebrating each big dart with his trademark "booyah" and averaging over 111. He closed out the match by taking the decisive 27th leg after a series of high‑scoring visits. The final showdown between Littler and Price promises a clash of contrasting styles – Littler’s relentless scoring and clinical double‑finishing versus Price’s fiery temperament and powerful checkouts.
Both players have indicated that the stakes are more than just a trophy; Littler is eyeing the record for the longest reign at world No 1, a mark currently held by Phil Taylor, while Price is eager to add the coveted Phil Taylor trophy to his cabinet. Littler reflected on his recent form, telling Sky Sports, "I want to stay dominant, keep winning, and ultimately break Phil’s record at the top. I’m aiming for three or four years as world No 1, and I hope we can go back‑to‑back in Blackpool." In his semi‑final, Littler set the tone early, opening with an 11‑dart leg followed by a 12‑dart leg, quickly establishing a 4‑1 lead.
He continued to pile on the pressure, reaching 8‑2 and then 16‑4, displaying a relentless barrage of 180s (seven in one session), 140s (twelve), and a staggering 117.10 average. Even when a brief dip allowed Van Duijvenbode to force a 22nd leg, Littler recovered, hitting back‑to‑back maximums and sealing the match with a decisive checkout after just 12 darts. The women's competition will also feature on Sky Sports Action on Sunday afternoon, with defending champion Lisa Ashton and three‑time finalist Beau Greaves vying for the title.
The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay final is scheduled for later that evening, a best‑of‑35‑leg encounter that will decide who lifts the coveted trophy. Fans can follow live coverage from 7:30 pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event, with the final expected to kick off around 8:15 pm. For those without a traditional TV subscription, streaming options are available through NOW, offering a contract‑free way to watch the drama unfold. As the tournament reaches its climax, the darts world waits to see whether Littler can cement his place among the sport’s greats with a historic back‑to‑back victory, or if Price will finally claim the elusive Phil Taylor trophy and add another milestone to his impressive career.