English darts world No. 1, defending world champion
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 Cameron Menzies has withdrawn, with Ross Smith advancing to face Gerwyn Price.
Littler defeats Aspinall 11-8 to reach the World Matchplay quarter-finals; van Duijvenbode beats van Gerwen 14-12; Anderson progresses with 11-7 over Clayton.
The Scot Cameron Menzies leads 2-1 but retreats due to high blood pressure and dizziness. Medics clear him to go to his accommodation, but he forfeits the match and exits the stage. Gerwyn Price advances, while Gian van Veen edges Nijman in a 14-12 thriller.
Double world champion Luke Littler has reached the World Matchplay final after dominant wins at the Winter Gardens. He has posted high averages and hit multiple maximums, while Dirk van Duijvenbode and Gerwyn Price have advanced to the semi-finals and final schedule.
Littler has defended his Betfred World Matchplay title with an 18-9 victory over Gerwyn Price in Blackpool. He has set a final average of 111.53 and a tournament average of 111.04, breaking Phil Taylor’s previous marks. The 19-year-old remains on track for a calendar-year haul of major titles, while Netflix has announced a reality darts show launching later this year.
The world champion has unveiled a mural in Warrington at the Golden Square Shopping Centre to celebrate his string of major titles this year, with his nan spotting the tribute first from a passing bus. He has just clinched the World Matchplay and aims for a clean sweep of majors, eyeing further glory in Orlando before the World Series.
World number one Luke Littler is chasing a first-ever calendar sweep of major darts titles in 2026. After setbacks in Leicester, he now confronts a remaining seven Players Championship events with the Minehead cutoff looming and a clear path via the UK events.