World Matchplay Thursday round-up | Luke Littler obliterates Josh Rock with 109 average as Dirk van Duijvenbode stuns Gary Anderson to set semi-final showdown

The first semi-final has been confirmed at the 2026 World Matchplay and Luke Littler will face off against Dirk van Duijvenbode after the first Quarter-Finals took place on Thursday night.

Van Duijvenbode took down Gary Anderson in a shock win in overtime to start the night. He won 16-13 against The Flying Scotsman who he has often regarded as one of his darting heroes and not hugely turned up against.

But he did just about tonight. He kicked off leading early against Anderson. He broke throw on double 16 after Anderson missed 156 and then despite being broken back, he hit double 20 for 3-1.

He then finally held to stop that sequence with a 107. He continued to add to that lead with a 56 checkout for 5-2 then he broke throw with a 63 checkout for 6-2. But then he pinned 7-2 to consolidate that. Very much heading towards double figures.

He went 8-3 up with a 100 checkout but Anderson reduced the arrears pinning double 20 for a break for 8-5 down and was very much on his coattails.

Van Duijvenbode went to double figures and then he broke free. He broke at 12-6 and 14-6 but what looked routine soon wasn't. Van Duijvenbode was on the verge at 15-8 and was one leg away. But he couldn't do it.

Anderson hit 66 to get it back to 15-10 and then 15-12, he hit a 154 checkout to break again. But he only held one more time on double 20 before finally Van Duijvenbode fell over the line to down The Flying Scotsman 16-13.

While once again, Luke Littler utterly blew away an opponent. After he saw off Nathan Aspinall with a 113 average, it wasn't the record but he still managed to hit nearly 110 to see off Josh Rock as despite averaging 100, it wasn't the semi-final we got last year and to be frank, Rock couldn't get close.

It was quite close to start, Littler even lost his throw in the first leg. But it soon very much became the Littler show as he went through the gears. He hit 129 for 4-3 and then broke with an 82 checkout for 5-3 to very much start the engine.

The car set off with Littler being broken back on double 20 but then with two 180's, he hit 41 for 7-5 and then finally held with a 108 checkout. Given the final scoreline of 16-7, time started to run out pretty sharpish for Rock who only got a few more legs. Littler broke him twice in a row hitting double 15 and then 106 to lead 11-5 and holding again on double five for 12-5, it was all a bit too easy.

That continued with Rock getting his final leg with a 93 checkout for 13-7 down. Rock went on a rampage from there hitting 44 to break throw again and then double 10 to win it. True obliteration from The Nuke.

It is going to take some stopping him and the same can be said if Van Duijvenbode doesn't win on Saturday, it is very much going to be an interesting tie and will likely hold the key at least on paper as to who will seal the title.