Gian van Veen fought his way into a semi‑final clash with Gerwyn Price at the World Matchplay after a dramatic 16‑13 triumph over James Wade in Blackpool. The opening phase of the quarter‑final was far from spectacular for either competitor; both players seemed to be searching for their rhythm and the scores were modest. The match truly ignited when Wade, trailing 11‑7, produced a remarkable run of four consecutive legs to draw level at 11‑11, injecting fresh tension into the contest.
From that point onward the standard of play rose sharply. Van Veen and Wade began to exchange high‑checkout finishes that exceeded 100 points, showcasing the precision that fans expect at this level. Despite posting a modest average of just 93, van Veen managed to silence the jeering crowd by clinching the final two legs, thereby booking his first ever appearance in the last four of the World Matchplay.
Looking ahead, the world number three will need to elevate his game for the semi‑final against Gerwyn Price. Price arrived in the semi‑final on the back of an impressive 102.78 average and a barrage of ten maximums in his 16‑12 victory over Ross Smith in the other quarter‑final. After surrendering a 12‑8 lead, Price rallied with four straight legs to secure his place in the semi‑final, marking his first appearance at this stage of the tournament since 2022. The other semi‑final will see defending champion Luke Littler take on Dirk van Duijvenbode, who has also broken into the last four for the first time.
Price’s run to the semi‑final has been nothing short of prolific this season. He has already reached the semi‑final stage of three televised events – the World Masters, the UK Open and the Premier League – before adding the World Matchplay to the list. In his quarter‑final against Smith, Price started strongly, taking the first three legs on his throw.
He then displayed his finishing prowess with a 117 checkout to hold his throw in the second leg and followed it with a three‑leg streak from the fourth leg onward. Smith responded with a flawless 12‑dart finish, but Price’s relentless scoring kept him in control. Smith attempted to stay within touching distance, hitting a 100 checkout to avoid falling 8‑5 behind and later missing a chance to level the match. Nevertheless, Price continued to dominate, breaking Smith’s throw and extending his lead to three legs.
The two players exchanged breaks of throw, but Price edged ahead, eventually sealing the win with a series of high‑checkouts, including a 121 finish and a 14‑dart finish to close the match. 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 I rode off four legs on the bounce. The 91 double‑double got the blood boiling. I’m thankful I played pretty decent tonight." The quarter‑final between van Veen and Wade was a study in contrasting momentum.
The early stages were sluggish, with both players averaging around 90. Van Veen broke the deadlock at the third interval by hitting a massive 160 checkout, pushing the score to 9‑6 in his favour.
He then squandered a few darts that could have widened his lead, but recovered quickly, taking the next two legs to move to 11‑7. Wade, however, was not ready to concede.
He sparked a comeback by hitting a 79 finish on the bullseye, followed by a 121 finish that allowed him to hold his throw for a fourth consecutive leg. The match was tied at 12‑12 when van Veen responded with a 118 checkout, securing back‑to‑back legs and putting himself within a single leg of victory. "The Machine" – as Wade is often called – answered with a 121 finish of his own to break back, but van Veen answered with a 75 checkout, narrowing the gap to a single leg.
He then sealed the win with a flawless 13‑dart finish, moving one step closer to a potential rise to world number two. After the match, a visibly exhausted van Veen spoke 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 iconic Winter Gardens, with the semi‑finals scheduled for Saturday. Both semi‑finals will be contested over a best‑of‑33 format, with the winners advancing to the Sunday final, which will be played over a best‑of‑35 legs. Defending champion Luke Littler will seek to retain his title against Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Gerwyn Price prepares to meet the surging Gian van Veen.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning at 7.30 pm on Sky Sports Action and around 9 pm on Sky Sports Main Event. For those who prefer streaming, the darts can also be watched via NOW, offering a contract‑free way to enjoy the tournament and other top‑level sporting events.
The weekend promises high drama, clutch finishes and the chance for a new champion to emerge from the historic Blackpool venue.