What's happened
World number one Littler has reached the World Matchplay semi-finals after defeating Rock; he will face Dirk van Duijvenbode, who eliminated Gary Anderson in a 16-13 thriller. Cameron Menzies has withdrawn, with Ross Smith advancing to face Gerwyn Price.
What's behind the headline?
Critical Analysis
- Littler is maintaining form, averaging around 110, with consistent high scoring as he progresses. This suggests a strong chance of defending his title if his doubles tighten.
- Van Duijvenbode is peaking at the right time, overcoming a 14-6 deficit to reach the semis, indicating a surge in resilience and clutch finishing.
- The tournament’s schedule has seen a potential clash with football commitments, but the organizers have kept the men’s darts program intact, signaling prioritization of major titles.
- Menzies’ withdrawal introduces a minor shift in the draw, potentially easing a path for Smith or Price later in the week.
- Expect tighter pressure on doubles as the stakes rise; players with higher 40%+ success rates on doubles are likely to advance.
How we got here
The World Matchplay in Blackpool is nearing its final stages. Littler, who has dominated early rounds, is chasing a string of major titles in 2026. Van Duijvenbode’s win over Anderson marks his first World Matchplay semis appearance, following a shock to van Gerwen in prior rounds.
Our analysis
According to BBC Sport and The Independent, Littler has hit 17 maxima with a high scoring average, while van Duijvenbode has shown late surge capability. Sky Sports coverage notes Menzies’ withdrawal and Smith’s advancement; the schedules are confirmed by BBC Business reporting. Read these for full match details and quotes.
Go deeper
- Will Littler defend his title this year given his current form?
- Can van Duijvenbode sustain late-match pressure to dethrone the favourite?
- How will Menzies’ withdrawal affect Smith’s route to the final?
More on these topics
-
Blackpool - Town in England
Blackpool is a large town and seaside resort on the Lancashire coast in North West England. The town is on the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, 15 miles northwest of Preston, 27 miles north of Liverpool, 28 miles northwest of Bolton and 4
-
Luke Littler - Darts player
Luke Littler is an English professional darts player who currently plays in the Professional Darts Corporation events. He is the current PDC World Youth Champion.
-
Nathan Aspinall - English darts player (born 1991)
Nathan Aspinall is an English professional darts player currently playing in Professional Darts Corporation events. He won the 2019 UK Open with a 170 checkout in the final leg against former World Champion Rob Cross.
-
Josh Rock - Northern Irish darts player
Joshua Rock is a Northern Irish professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. He has won 4 ranking PDC titles including the 2024 Dutch Darts Championship.
-
Thomas Tuchel - German football coach
Thomas Tuchel is a German professional football coach and former player. He is the head coach of Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.
-
Stephen Bunting - English darts player
Stephen Bunting is an English professional darts player who competes in events of the Professional Darts Corporation. Nicknamed The Bullet, Bunting won the 2014 BDO World Championships and is a twice former World Masters champion.
-
Joe Cullen - Wikimedia disambiguation page
Joe Cullen may refer to: Joe Cullen (American football) (born 1967), defensive line coach Joe Cullen (darts player) (born 1989), English darts player
-
Luke Woodhouse - English darts player
Luke Woodhouse is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. Known as "Woody", he won a PDC Challenge Tour event in 2013.
-
Sky Sports - Television channel
Sky Sports is a group of British subscription television sports channels operated by the satellite pay-TV company Sky, a division of Comcast. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
-
Darts - Sports
Darts or dart-throwing is a competitive sport in which two or more players bare-handedly throw small sharp-pointed missiles known as darts at a round target known as a dartboard. Darts players are sometimes termed "dartists".
-
Van Gerwen - Dutch darts player
Michael van Gerwen is a Dutch professional darts player. He is currently ranked number one in the world and is a three-time PDC World Champion, having won the title in 2014, 2017, and 2019. Van Gerwen began playing darts at the age of 13.
-
Dirk van Duijvenbode - Dutch darts player
Dirk van Duijvenbode is a Dutch darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. He is known for his energetic walk-on, combined with hardstyle music.