Littler cruises into Matchplay semis with win over Rock

Luke Littler's World Matchplay title defence continued with a straightforward 16-7 quarter-final win over Josh Rock in Blackpool.

Rock initially kept pace with the world number one as the players traded breaks to reach 5-5.

But after 19-year-old Littler reeled off five legs in a row, there proved to be no way back for Rock as the defending champion, in dazzling form, cruised into the semi-finals.

After throwing 17 180s with a scoring average of 109.57, Littler said: "At the minute, everything's going to plan."

The teenager added: "I feel good. I can afford to miss a few doubles because the scoring's there.

"Once again another brilliant performance, but fair play to Josh, he put up a good fight."

Littler will play unseeded Dirk van Duijvenbode of the Netherlands in Saturday's semi-final.

Earlier on Thursday evening, tournament outsider Van Duijvenbode survived a late surge by Gary Anderson to reach his first Matchplay semi-final.

Anderson, the 2018 World Matchplay champion, threatened to close an eight-leg deficit with a fine late display including a 154 checkout, but Van Duijvenbode held on for a 16-13 win.

Reflecting on his second-round tie-break win over Michael van Gerwen, Van Duijvenbode had said that shaking "like a little child crying for his mum" allowed his compatriot back into match after leading 8-4.

After leading 8-4 again on Thursday, Van Duijvenbode dropped two consecutive legs but then stormed into a 14-6 lead by winning the next six without reply.

However, it would be a further nine legs until Van Duijvenbode won the tie as a resurgent Anderson pushed him hard.

World Matchplay Darts 2026 - Schedule, draw and prize money

Thursday's World Matchplay results

Numbers in brackets indicate seedings

Van Duijvenbode 16-13 Anderson (12)

(1) Littler 16-7 Rock (8)

Friday's World Matchplay schedule

Quarter-finals - action from 20:05 BST

(3) Gian van Veen vs James Wade (6)

(7) Gerwyn Price vs Ross Smith (15)