World Matchplay Semi-Finals Round-up | Luke Littler steamrolls van Duijvenbode with 111 average to set up final showdown against Gerwyn Price

The World Matchplay semi-finals brought up two contrasting contests as Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price produced differing displays to fend off their opponents and book their spots in the final at the Winter Gardens.

The Phil Trophy will be lifted tomorrow night by one of those former world champions. Price is in a first major final since the 2023 World Grand Prix in a welcoming change. Him and Gian van Veen were not at their scintillating best, but it was the 2022 runner-up who managed to get over the line.

It was much more comfortable for Littler who offered a hapless Dirk van Duijvenbode a drubbing while playing some incredible darts. Averaging north of 110 throughout the match, he gave himself a shot to defend his World Matchplay title and will be the overwhelming favourite to do so based off his most recent performance.

The Welsh number one has changed hands. Jonny Clayton no longer has the bragging rights over his fellow countryman as Price was the first player to book his spot in the final. The tie against van Veen took time to get going but Price led most of it and a spurt at the end where he won six of the final seven legs sealed him a brilliant 17-10 win.

Price was very vocal at the end of the first session. He began with a break of throw before van Veen got his first leg on the board to make it 2-1. After the ‘Iceman’ missed two big numbers, the opportunity arose for van Veen but uncharacteristically two darts were missed at double 16. Price, on his favourite tops, pinned it two legs on the spin followed by the iconic cheer fans are accustomed to, the second one for a brilliant 125 outshot.

Price led 4-1 despite averaging a couple of points less. That double break was soon made a triple break advantage as Price survived yet more darts on the outer ring by his opponents wasteful finishing. The streak of legs ended as van Veen found a little bit of momentum, taking out 80 on double 10 to edge 6-3 behind. From 6-1 down and three breaks behind, ‘The Giant’ moved one behind on the madhouse but had missed 17 darts at a double in 10 legs.

A brace of holds was followed by a pivotal moment in the tie. With van Veen on 32, Price found the treble 17 to leave tops for a 108 checkout and pinned it expertly to reinstate his double-break lead. However, his hard work was undone after being in control of the leg, missing five darts as van Veen broke back to make it 8-6. A third consecutive break saw the former world champion leave the stage with a satisfactory lead.

The pair both came close to ton+ checkouts, and double five proved to be elusive for Price. The flurry of breaks continued as both players continued to rue their chances on throw. Both having missed 19 darts at a double in 16 legs, the player who cleaned up their finishing would have a golden chance of reaching the final.

Price regained his three-leg lead with one dart plonked into the tops bed. A first hold in five legs was confirmed with that same target as Price started to motor, going 11-7 ahead. Van Veen hung on to Price who would pay for missing double 13. Van Veen showed him how it was done the other side of the board, pinning double 11 for an 84 checkout and it was 11-9 to the Welshman.

Another two-leg spell this time ended in the dreaded ‘come on’ if you are the world number three. Price led 13-9 and was desperate this time to run off into the sunset. There was more daylight following a 12-dart break on double 12 as Price upped the gears, going six legs to the good and two away from a second Matchplay final.

No reaction by van Veen following an eye-catching 110 checkout on double 16, but his chances were getting rarer. Especially when Price produces legs of the calibre of the next one, leaving 40 after nine and finishing in 10. Van Veen, who would have gone to world number two if he won, missed four darts to win what would be the final leg. Price took out 48 and is a Matchplay finalist for the second time.

Littler was the huge favourite in this tie and did not disappoint on the oche. An 110.88 average gave van Duijvenbode no chance of reaching a third major final, battering him 17-5 with the 19-year-old reaching a second consecutive World Matchplay final.

A 12-dart break before an 11-dart hold was a harsh slap in the face for van Duijvenbode. Littler was out of the blocks fast. Compared to last year’s title run where he had fallen behind in the early stages, he was not letting that occur again. He quickly doubled his lead before van Duijvenbode finally got some space ahead and got his first leg on the board.

‘The Aubergenius’ needed to take every chance he could muster up. His scoring power that can be so dangerous was not there and Littler, who was casually averaging over 114, got a third break on the board.

A routing seemed well and truly on. An 11-darter with a 60 checkout moved Littler even further clear. Some brilliance from van Duijvenbode saw him score 180 and 159 before nailing double 12 for a 13-darter. He could force a smile on his face. That was soon swiped off as Littler found another 11-darter to lead 8-2 at the second break. He was averaging 117.1.

A bit of quality from the Dutchman, taking out 146 on double 16 with ‘The Nuke’ stranded on 42. Two legs later, the world number one was on double digits with another arrow in the centre of the double 20 bed. He made it four on the spin with an inevitable 130 checkout which followed van Duijvenbode missing the bull for a 132. Sarcastically, he went to barge Littler before fist pumping him as they wandered off the stage, flabbergasted by what he was coming against and seemingly seeing the end of the road.

Littler still had to win it. His lowest average in this tournament was in the first round against Niko Springer with a 109.53 showing. He had a shot at the 170, but it was not reeled in after wiring the bull. He cleaned it up and moved four away.

Van Duijvenbode got his fourth leg in this match but was making no inroads in this match. Littler nailed double 10 for yet another break of throw before taking out 81 on the double below to move one away. He came back on stage and missed five match darts as van Duijvenbode closed the gap to 11 legs.

That looked to be a blessing in disguise as Littler found two 180’s to give him a shot at the perfect leg for the match. He failed to continue it, but had no issue in getting to the final with Price waiting in a tantalising showdown.