Littler sets up Price final at World Matchplay

Littler sets up Price final at World MatchplayImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Luke Littler is aiming to become just the third back-to-back winner of the World MatchplayByCallum MatthewsBBC Sport senior journalistPublished13 minutes agoDefending champion Luke Littler strolled into the World Matchplay final with a 17-5 demolition of unseeded Dirk van Duijvenbode in Blackpool.The world number one raced in an 8-2 advantage and was averaging 117.10 and on course to beat Phil Taylor’s tournament match average record of 114.99Littler admitted afterwards that distracted him and his level did drop slightly as he finished with an average just below 111. However, that leaves him well placed to beat Taylor’s tournament average of 106.31, with Littler’s currently at 110.88. The teenager’s victory also means he has now amassed more than £3m in the PDC’s order of merit, and is more than £2m clear of world number two Luke Humphries. Littler will face Wales’ Gerwyn Price in Sunday’s final after he beat Netherlands’ Gian van Veen 17-10.Sunday’s final gets under way at 20:05 BST, with the Women’s World Matchplay taking place in the afternoon session from 13:00 – Beau Greaves and defending champion Lisa Ashton the top two seeds. Price replaces Clayton as Welsh number onePrice broke in the opening leg of the game and charged into a 4-1 lead, before a scrappy run of legs saw both players break throw regularly to leave Price leading 11-9 at the final mini-break. From there, the seventh seed powered on and stretched away from Van Veen in scoring and finishing to seal a comfortable victory. Both players missed 23 darts at a double across the match, while Van Veen was broken nine times in 14 legs throwing first on what was a difficult night for the world number three.The victory sees Price climb to fourth in the order of merit, above Jonny Clayton, and in turn becomes Welsh number one. Price told Sky Sports he was “happy” to reach the final, but “getting one up” on good friend Clayton was his main focus going into the tie. Follow live text coverage of the men’s World Matchplay on the BBC Sport website and app from 19:30 BST on Sunday. World Matchplay Darts 2026 – Schedule, draw and prize money