World Matchplay Friday evening Round-Up | Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen set for blockbuster semi-final as Ross Smith and James Wade fall
PDCFriday, 24 July 2026 at 23:52
The World Matchplay Quarter-Finals are complete and our line-up is set for the semi-finals as Gerwyn Price faces Gian van Veen, while Luke Littler takes on Dirk van Duijvenbode.
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To the first Quarter-Final, Gerwyn Price managed to pull away from Ross Smith who mounted a late comeback. But he couldn't get past 'The Iceman' who won 16-12 in the end.
To start the tie, Smith hit 47 to lead 1-0. Price hit back with a 117 checkout but Smith led double 20. Only for Price to hit 80 to lead 3-2 at the break.
Price went double five to hold and went 4-2 up taking that break on return. Smith went 4-3 down here only for Price to hold again with an 86 checkout for 5-3 up. Smith held with a 47 checkout but back comes Price with an 82 checkout for 6-4 up.
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Price was seven up though as he pinned 91 for 7-5. Smith returned for 100 but he still didn't have that break. Price hit 60 to continue adding to his lead at 8-6 up.
Price hit 74 for 11-7 and has now gone to 12-8 with double 20. Smith held with a 68 checkout for 12-9 down but still a mountain to climb.
| Ross Smith | VS | Gerwyn Price |
|---|---|---|
| 98.16 | Average (3 Darts) | 102.78 |
| 28 | 100+ Thrown | 33 |
| 20 | 140+ Thrown | 22 |
| 10 | 180 Thrown | 10 |
| 100 | Highest Checkout | 121 |
| 1 | Checkout 100+ | 2 |
| 44.44 | Checkout percentage | 45.71 |
| 12 / 26 | Checkout | 16 / 35 |
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Smith finally broke on double 18, and he took the impetus at 12-10 down, hitting 72 to go one down. Smith broke again from there as he hit 80 with Price not pinning 70, and he returned to break for 12-12.
Price flipped it again and broke back on double 20 before hitting 121 for 14-12. Under supreme pressure, he broke again for 91 for 15-12 and held for 16-12 for the win. Superb from 'The Iceman'.
Price books win
Van Veen sets up tie with Price
Gian van Veen set up his tie with Gerwyn Price by seeing off James Wade with a 93 average in the process. He survived a revival from Wade a bit like Price v Smith and now will face the Welshman tomorrow.
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Van Veen took a 1-0 lead on double 12. Wade levelled on double 20 to make it 1-1. Wade levelled, hitting 108 to make it 2-2. Van Veen hit 180 to leave 67 and pinned it with Wade missing the chance to break off 90.
Wade was broken 4-2 with a 74 checkout. But Wade broke back on double 18 and held on double 12 for 4-4. Van Veen led again. He hit 80 and then broke for 6-4. Van Veen held on 71 for 7-4 before Wade hit double 10 to go one down at 7-5.
| Gian van Veen | VS | James Wade |
|---|---|---|
| 93.04 | Average (3 Darts) | 97.05 |
| 39 | 100+ Thrown | 41 |
| 21 | 140+ Thrown | 23 |
| 4 | 180 Thrown | 7 |
| 160 | Highest Checkout | 121 |
| 2 | Checkout 100+ | 3 |
| 55.17 | Checkout percentage | 41.94 |
| 16 / 27 | Checkout | 12 / 30 |
Van Veen then produced a blockbuster 160 to go 9-6 up and hit double figures. he broke again going 11-7 up with double 16 and 46.
But Wade came back also. He broke with a 79 checkout and then 45 to hold. But Van Veen was looking to go 12-9 up and go four away.
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Wade though hit double 20 to make it 11-11. He had parity. A 67 checkout for Van Veen to make it 12-11 as he held throw finally. After missing 170, Wade hit 25 to make it 12-12. Van Veen was two away from the victory. He was 14-12 up breaking throw with a 118 checkout.
Wade hit 121 to break back immediately as he was looking for parity. Van Veen was one away from victory and broke throw again with a 75 checkout.
He claimed the win from there on double 20. Wade is out and Van Veen moves through.
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