Luke Littler delivered a masterclass performance, cruising to a 17-5 triumph 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 English prodigy continued to astonish analysts with his numbers: he posted a 110.88 three‑dart average, hit sixteen 180s and converted half of his attempts at doubles.
Those figures sit alongside an earlier 113‑plus average and a nine‑dart finish against Nathan Aspinall, plus 109‑average victories over Niko Springer and Josh Rock in the quarter‑finals, underscoring the consistency that has defined his run. Beyond the raw statistics, Littler has also broken a financial milestone, becoming the first PDC player to amass £3 million in prize money.
That achievement creates a £2 million gap between him and second‑ranked Luke Humphries, highlighting his rapid ascent up the Order of Merit. With his eyes set on a historic back‑to‑back victory in Blackpool, Littler aims to emulate Michael van Gerwen, who last pulled off consecutive titles in 2016. Littler’s campaign this season has been nothing short of a clean‑sweep quest. He already holds the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League and Masters crowns, and he is defending the Matchplay, Grand Slam, Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals.
A win in the upcoming final would cement a remarkable collection of trophies for 2026, reinforcing his reputation as the sport’s new dominant force. Across the other side of the draw, the "Iceman" Gerwyn Price has re‑emerged in the Blackpool final for the first time since 2022 after a convincing 17‑10 victory over Dutchman Gian van Veen.
The Welshman, who has yet to hoist the Phil Taylor‑named trophy, used his trademark composure and power to secure the win, propelling him back into the world No. 4 spot and reclaiming the Welsh No. 1 ranking from Jonny Clayton. "I’m thrilled to be Wales’ number one again," Price told Sky Sports, adding that the early part of the season had seen him play some of his best darts.
The semi‑finals themselves provided a showcase of high‑octane darts. Littler opened the match with an 11‑dart leg, followed immediately by a flawless 12‑dart finish, quickly establishing a 4‑1 lead. By the second session he was cruising at 8‑2, delivering a barrage of scoring power that left van Duijvenbode with little chance to recover.
In that stretch Littler recorded seven 180s, twelve 140s, and only three visits without a treble, posting a 117.10 average for the session. Even when he slipped in the 11th leg, he rebounded with a spectacular 130 checkout (T20‑T20‑D5) to close the session in style.
Although his average for the night fell just 0.9 short of Phil Taylor’s Matchplay record of 114.99, it remained an extraordinary display of consistency and precision. Littler’s momentum continued into the third session, where he surged to a 16‑4 advantage, needing only one more leg to lock in his place in the final. A brief lapse in double conversion allowed van Duijvenbode to claw the match back to the 22nd leg, during which Littler missed five match darts.
Undeterred, he responded in the decisive leg with back‑to‑back maximums, then set up a tops finish after 12 darts and sealed the win with a dominant finish that sent the crowd into a roar. Price’s path to the final was equally compelling. He began strongly, breaking Littler’s throw twice and delivering 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 flurry of five consecutive breaks, extending his lead to 10‑7.
In the fifth session, Price’s trademark "booyah" celebration erupted after each big dart as he averaged over 111, stringing together four straight legs and ultimately clinching the 27th leg to seal the match. Both finalists now face a high‑stakes showdown that will determine who claims the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay title. Littler, eager to cement his dominance, told Sky Sports, "I want to stay dominant. I want to keep winning and winning.
I want to be at the top and I want to beat Phil’s record. I want to beat Phil’s record of world No 1 which is three or four years.
We come back tomorrow and hopefully go back‑to‑back." Price, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction at regaining the Welsh No. 1 spot and emphasized his ambition to add the coveted Matchplay crown to his résumé.
The final, a best‑of‑35‑leg encounter, is scheduled for Sunday evening, with live coverage beginning at 7:30 pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event, and the decisive leg expected around 8:15 pm. Fans can also stream the action via NOW or other authorized platforms. As the darts world turns its attention to Blackpool, the narrative is clear: a young phenom seeking to rewrite history and a seasoned champion hungry for redemption will clash in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments. In addition to the men's final, the fifth edition of the Women's World Matchplay will be broadcast live from 1 pm on Sky Sports Action, featuring defending champion Lisa Ashton and rising star Beau Greaves, who aims for her third title in four years.
The weekend’s programming underscores the growing popularity of darts across genders and generations, offering a full slate of elite competition for viewers worldwide.