Image: Taylor Lanning/PDC
Littler Steamrolls Van Duijvenbode With 110.88 Average as Price Battles Past Van Veen to Set Up Blockbuster Final
Luke Littler produced one of the most dominant semi-final performances in World Matchplay history on Saturday evening, demolishing Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 with an astonishing 110.88 average to book his place in a second consecutive final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Earlier in the evening, Gerwyn Price overcame Gian van Veen 17-10 in a more competitive contest to reach his first ranked major final since the 2023 World Grand Prix. The two will meet in Sunday's best-of-35 final at the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay.
By reaching the final, Littler has made history — becoming the first player ever to surpass £3 million on the two-year PDC Order of Merit, with his provisional ranking total rising to £3,043,500.
Gerwyn Price 17-10 Gian van Veen
Price opened the semi-finals with a controlled display against third seed Gian van Veen, racing into a 4-1 lead and extending it to 6-1 before the Dutchman found his range. Van Veen broke back to close the gap to 8-6, but Price steadied the ship and pulled clear once more.
| Statistic | Gerwyn Price | Gian van Veen |
|---|---|---|
| Result | 17 | 10 |
| Average | 96.65 | 91.62 |
Price fired notable checkouts of 125, 110, and 108 as he pulled away in the closing stages, winning six of the final seven legs to seal a convincing victory. It was an impressive all-round performance from the Welshman, who averaged 102.78 in his quarter-final win over Ross Smith. Browse the full Gerwyn Price collection including his darts and accessories. Read our guide: What darts does Gerwyn Price throw?
For van Veen, it was a tournament to be proud of. The 22-year-old reached his first World Matchplay semi-final after an impressive quarter-final win over James Wade, cementing his place as the world number three on the PDC Order of Merit with £968,500. Van Veen needed to reach the final to overtake Luke Humphries for the world number two spot — instead, Humphries holds firm at £1,008,000.
Luke Littler 17-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode — A Masterclass in Blackpool
If the first semi-final was competitive, the second was an exhibition. Luke Littler was devastating from the opening leg against Dirk van Duijvenbode, establishing an early stranglehold that the Dutchman — nicknamed "The Aubergenius" — simply could not break.
Littler led 4-1 at the first break, 8-2 at the second — where his average stood at a remarkable 117.1 — and 12-3 at the third. By the time the fourth break arrived at 16-4, the result was a formality. Littler sealed victory at 17-5 with a tournament average that few players in history could match.
| Statistic | Luke Littler | Dirk van Duijvenbode |
|---|---|---|
| Result | 17 | 5 |
| Average | 110.88 | 92.02 |
Littler's 130 checkout was one of several clinical finishes, while van Duijvenbode managed a brilliant 146 checkout in reply — but it was merely a consolation in a match dominated by the defending champion.
This performance adds to what has been a sensational tournament for Littler, who hit the 11th nine-dart finish in World Matchplay history during his second round match against Nathan Aspinall, averaging 113.68 in that contest — the second-highest match average in tournament history behind Phil Taylor's 114.99 in 2010. Browse the full Luke Littler collection including his darts and flights & accessories.
Littler Becomes First Player to Break £3 Million on PDC Order of Merit
By reaching the final, Littler's two-year ranking total has risen to £3,043,500, making him the first player in PDC history to hold more than £3 million on the Order of Merit. His lead over second-placed Luke Humphries (£1,008,000) is now more than £2 million — a gap without precedent in the sport.
If Littler wins Sunday's final, his ranking total will increase to £3,143,500. A tournament victory would also make him only the sixth player to successfully defend the World Matchplay title.
PDC Order of Merit Impact
| Rank | Player | Ranking Money | Matchplay Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Littler | £3,043,500 | First ever to exceed £3m — historic milestone |
| 2 | Luke Humphries | £1,008,000 | Eliminated in first round |
| 3 | Gian van Veen | £968,500 | Needed final to overtake Humphries — stays 3rd |
| 8 | Gerwyn Price | £635,000+ | Reaches first major final since 2023 |
Price's Warning to Littler Ahead of the Final
Speaking after his quarter-final victory earlier in the week, Price was candid about the challenge Littler presents — but insisted he can compete at the same level.
"He's ruthless at the minute — these 109, 110 averages just look so easy for him. I think some players play into his hand and just let him play with his rhythm... people make it a little bit too easy for him."
Price added: "I think there's a lot of players that can get to that level. Is there anyone who can do it as long as him? I think I can."
Whether Price can disrupt Littler's rhythm in the final remains to be seen — but his run to the final proves the former world champion remains a serious force on the big stage.
World Matchplay 2026 Final — Sunday 26 July
| Final | Format | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Luke Littler (1) vs Gerwyn Price (7) | Best of 35 legs | Sky Sports Darts & Sky Sports Main Event |
Littler is chasing a second consecutive World Matchplay title after beating James Wade 18-13 in the 2025 final. The 19-year-old has been in sensational form throughout this tournament, never averaging below 109.53 in any match — dispatching Niko Springer, Nathan Aspinall, Josh Rock, and van Duijvenbode without dropping a session. Price, meanwhile, will look to add a first World Matchplay title to a CV that already includes a World Championship, World Grand Prix, and Grand Slam of Darts — having beaten Ryan Searle, Danny Noppert, Ross Smith, and van Veen to reach the final.
Make your predictions with our World Matchplay Bracket Predictor.
Tournament Recap — Littler's Road to the Final
Littler's path to the final has been nothing short of extraordinary:
- R1: def. Niko Springer 10-5 — Day 1 results
- R2: def. Nathan Aspinall 11-5 (nine-dart finish, 113.68 avg) — Round 2 Day 1
- QF: def. Josh Rock — Shop Josh Rock darts
- SF: def. Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 (110.88 avg) — Shop van Duijvenbode darts
Read our full World Matchplay 2026 guide for the complete draw, schedule, prize money, and how to watch.
World Matchplay 2026 Prize Money
| Round | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | £225,000 |
| Runner-up | £125,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £65,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | £35,000 |
| Second round | £22,500 |
| First round | £12,500 |
| Total fund | £1,000,000 |
Shop World Matchplay Players
Get kitted out with official darts, flights, shirts and accessories from the stars of Blackpool:
- Luke Littler Shop — Darts, flights & accessories
- Gerwyn Price Shop — Darts & gear
- Gary Anderson Shop — Darts & gear
- Josh Rock Shop — Darts & accessories
- Luke Humphries Shop — Darts & gear
- Rob Cross Shop
- Stephen Bunting Shop
- Michael van Gerwen Shop
- Browse All Players
Shop tonight's semi-finalists: Dirk van Duijvenbode darts | Gian van Veen darts | Ross Smith darts | James Wade darts
Looking for dart cases, dartboards, or shafts? Free UK delivery on orders over £50. Shop the latest Target darts and sale items at ArrowHeadz.
Read our full coverage: Day 1 results | First round wrap-up | Round 2 Day 1: Littler's nine-darter | Menzies withdrawal | Full draw, schedule & how to watch
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the World Matchplay 2026 semi-final results?
Gerwyn Price beat Gian van Veen 17-10 (avg 96.65 vs 91.62) and Luke Littler beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 (avg 110.88 vs 92.02) on Saturday 25 July 2026 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Who is in the World Matchplay 2026 final?
Luke Littler faces Gerwyn Price in the World Matchplay 2026 final on Sunday 26 July. The match is played over best of 35 legs and is live on Sky Sports Darts and Sky Sports Main Event.
Has Luke Littler really earned £3 million in ranking money?
Yes. By reaching the 2026 World Matchplay final, Littler's two-year PDC Order of Merit total has risen to £3,043,500, making him the first player in history to exceed £3 million on the ranking system. If he wins the final, that figure will increase to £3,143,500.
What was Luke Littler's average in the semi-final?
Littler averaged 110.88 in his 17-5 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode. At the second break, his average stood at 117.1. He has not averaged below 109.53 in any match at this tournament.
Is this Gerwyn Price's first World Matchplay final?
Yes. Despite winning the World Championship in 2021, the World Grand Prix in 2023, and the Grand Slam of Darts, the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay final is Price's first appearance in this particular event's showpiece match.
