"If you're being outscored, you simply won't get enough opportunities" - Mark Webster predicts Littler and Price to come out victorious in World Matchplay semi-finals

As we come to the final two days of the 2026 World Matchplay, just four players remain in the hunt for the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy. Luke Littler and Dirk van Duijvenbode will battle it out in the second semi-final, but the first one pitches Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price against one another. It is a contest that takes Mark Webster's eye as he analysed and dissected the possible outcome of the Matchplay semi-finals.

Van Veen came through a tight 16-13 match against James Wade. Not playing his best stuff, he still proved to be too good for the former champion with some extremely clinical finishing on display at crucial times.

The scoring was again not at the level he would have wished for with a 93 average not great reading. However, Webster acknowledges that it does not matter with the Dutchman winning the darts match, praising his attitude on stage.

"I think you've got to be positive about it," he said on Sky Sports. "He's found a way to reach the semi-finals without being anywhere near his best, and that takes some doing. We talk a lot about Luke Littler breaking all these records, but sometimes there's a bit of graft involved in this sport. You've just got to work hard when things aren't going your way."

He analysed how van Veen was never fazed at any point in the match, just getting on with it. "He wasn't shaking his head or feeling sorry for himself. I think he simply accepted that this wasn't going to be one of his best performances, but if he could create an opportunity and take it, he'd give himself a chance to win the match. That's exactly what he did. His finishing percentage for the tournament is 56%."

This will come in crucial against his semi-final opponent, Price. "If the scoring comes as well, then who knows what he can achieve? But he's going to need that scoring against Gerwyn Price," he stated. "He knows he'll have to score better. He can relax knowing his finishing has been really solid, but if you don't score, you don't create enough chances at doubles. He's going to have to improve his scoring tomorrow. He can't afford another slow start. I think when we came back from the final break he was averaging below 90, and he only managed to lift it to 93 by the end."

Price, on the other hand, is starting to find his feet on stage. A 102.78 average combined with a 46% checkout rate makes for good reading in a 16-12 win over Ross Smith. His fellow countryman was in full praise of the performance he put in on the oche.

"That was a really good performance from Gerwyn Price," he admitted. "Averaging 103 over that length of match is excellent. I also liked the way he handled the closing stages. From 12-all, after Ross Smith had fought back, there was no head-shaking or frustration. It was simply, 'Right, here we go again. Let's get this done.'"

The belief was there, and he is now paying dividends for it. "He trusted the way he was playing. He trusted the process because he's gradually improved with every match this week. He's getting more fired up, and Gerwyn Price enjoys being involved at the business end of tournaments. Now he's there, I think he'll really look forward to that semi-final. In a way, he almost needed this kind of run."

Price has had some incredible patches throughout the year, winning a European Tour title while flexing his muscles in the Premier League Darts against the best players in the world. Recent distractions away from the oche may be taking his attention in this current moment in time, but that does not mean he will shy away from the challenge.

"He's had some good results this year," Webster continued. "It's more about what he's been saying recently. Obviously there have been distractions involving one of his family members, and he's admitted that's affected him. But ultimately he's a professional darts player, and a very good one. That's what he has to focus on. I was impressed with him tonight, and I've been impressed with both players in different ways. They've each found ways to win matches without always being at their best, and that sets up a brilliant semi-final."

The head to head makes for grim reading if you are a van Veen fan. 16 times they have met, and only three of them the European Champion has come out on top in. He has claimed the only whitewash win, battering 'The Iceman' 6-0 in last year's Czech Darts Open.

All seven contests this year have been in the Premier League. Price was the victor in five of them, including one nightly final. This is obviously a lot longer format, with it first to 17 legs, but Webster still believes that Price has the slight edge over his young opponent.

"On what I've seen so far, Gerwyn Price," he said. "Finishing will only take you so far. As I said earlier, you have to score heavily to leave yourself doubles. If you're being outscored, you simply won't get enough opportunities. For me, Gerwyn Price looks like the more complete player at the moment."

However, that will not faze van Veen with some personal motivations and milestones in reach. "That said, Gian van Veen has the added incentive of potentially becoming world No. 2 and reaching his first World Matchplay final. There are plenty of storylines going into that semi-final."

At the end of the segment, the 2011 quarter-finalist briefly touched upon the second quarter-final involving the reigning champion Littler and van Duijvenbode. Littler has so far mustered up a tournament average of 110.88. These are record-breaking numbers with 'The Aubergenius' having his work cut out for him if he is going to confirm a second major final.

When asked for his view on this tie, Webster struggled to say much in van Duijvenbode's case. "More of the same. I'm trying to make a case for Dirk because he's been brilliant. He averaged 101 against Gary Anderson, but Josh Rock was blown away despite averaging 101 himself.

"For Dirk to have a chance, he needs to get out in front early. He'll have to hope Luke Littler's average drops by five or six points, meet him somewhere in the middle, and then take virtually every opportunity that comes his way."

Even then, that just does not seem possible. "I just don't see it," he remarked. "But from Dirk's perspective, he has to go up there and be positive. I don't like it when people say, 'He's got nothing to lose,' because it's a major semi-final. They don't come around that often for most players. So Dirk has to give it absolutely everything. But what a task he's got ahead of him."