Blackpool, UK – World number one Luke Littler has advanced to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, continuing his title defence with a dominant 16-7 victory over Josh Rock. The 19-year-old darts sensation delivered a stellar performance, averaging an impressive 109.57 and hitting 17 maximums during Thursday evening's quarter-final clash at the Winter Gardens.
The match began competitively, with both players exchanging breaks of throw to reach a 5-5 deadlock. However, Littler then asserted his authority, reeling off five consecutive legs to establish a significant lead from which Rock was unable to recover. Speaking after the match, Littler expressed his satisfaction, stating that "everything's going to plan" and highlighting his strong scoring ability, which provides a buffer for occasional missed doubles.
Littler's next opponent will be the unseeded Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, who secured his place in the semi-finals by defeating former champion Gary Anderson 16-13 earlier on Thursday. Van Duijvenbode, making his first appearance in a Matchplay semi-final, survived a late surge from Anderson, who threatened a comeback from an eight-leg deficit with a brilliant 154 checkout, before the Dutchman eventually closed out the win.
Van Duijvenbode's path to the semi-finals has not been without its challenges, including a tense tie-break victory against Michael van Gerwen in the second round. Despite building an 8-4 lead against Anderson, he allowed his opponent back into the match before regaining control and storming to a 14-6 advantage. However, Anderson's resilience meant it took a further nine legs for Van Duijvenbode to seal his victory.
The remaining two quarter-final matches are scheduled for Friday evening, with third seed Gian van Veen taking on James Wade, and seventh seed Gerwyn Price facing Ross Smith. These matches will determine who fills the other two semi-final spots, leading into Saturday's highly anticipated semi-final showdowns.