Mens Matchplay
World Matchplay Quarter-Finals Predictions 2026: Littler On Track To Retain Title
The World Matchplay has reached the part where the format starts to matter as much as the form book and William Hill News provide insight ahead of the quarter-final stage.
Thursday and Friday’s quarter-finals at the Winter Gardens bring four longer matches, which gives the class players more room to settle and usually asks better questions of the shorter-priced contenders.
Luke Littler remains the defending champion after beating James Wade 18-13 in last year’s final, while the event’s prize fund has been boosted to £1m with £225,000 going to the winner.
That only sharpens the edge on a quarter-final stage that already feels loaded with storyline, scoring power and a couple of proper throwback contests.
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Gary Anderson
Dirk van Duijvenbode has already knocked out Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen to reach this stage, and both wins came in matches where he had to handle pressure rather than dominate from start to finish.
That resilience matters, but Gary Anderson’s steady scoring and experience in this kind of format still make him the pick for me.
Anderson opened his tournament with a 10-2 win over Ryan Joyce, which is the sort of clean start that settles a player before the long grind of the later rounds.
Van Duijvenbode has been good enough to survive, but Anderson has looked the more complete major performer across the tournament so far.
- Prediction: Gary Anderson to win (1/3)
The 180 market also makes sense here, because both players can pile pressure onto the treble 20 and neither tends to shy away from a scoring scrap.
If you want a lively angle rather than a simple match winner, Anderson to land the most 180s has real appeal.
Luke Littler vs Josh Rock
This is the tie that can turn the Winter Gardens into a racket. Littler and Rock have already shown they can bring the kind of scoring heat that changes a match in a few legs, and the longer format only gives both men more chances to settle into a rhythm.
Littler began his title defence with a 10-6 win over Niko Springer, highlighted by a monster 109 average.
That is exactly the sort of number that tells you he is already close to top gear, and when he is at that level, the rest of the field usually has to play catch-up.
Josh Rock reached the quarter-finals after beating Luke Woodhouse 10-4 in round one. He has enough power to make this competitive, but Littler’s ceiling is still the highest thing in the draw.
- Prediction: Luke Littler to win (1/12)
Over 19.5 180s looks like the bet that fits the match shape best. Both players score heavily, both are comfortable playing at tempo, and this has the feel of a contest where the maximums come in waves rather than dribs and drabs.
Ross Smith vs Gerwyn Price
Gerwyn Price comes into this one after a 11-9 win over Martin Schindler and a 10-3 defeat of Rob Cross in the opening two rounds.
That second-round performance looked like a step forward, and that matters because Price has a habit of getting sharper as the tournament goes on.
Ross Smith has already shown he can punish mistakes, with a 10-6 win over Kevin Doets setting up this quarter-final shot.
The problem is that Price usually brings more control when the format stretches, and that can make a difference in a close game that stays tight for a long time.
- Prediction: Gerwyn Price to win (4/7)
The handicap route is attractive because Price has the stronger big-match profile and the better track record of turning a competitive game into a controlled finish.
A narrow Price win feels more realistic than a blowout, but he is still the side I would trust.
Gian van Veen vs James Wade
Gian van Veen has had to survive a wobble already, including a tense win over Wessel Nijman in the last 16.
That kind of match can build character, but it can also leave a player one gear short when the opposition becomes more experienced and more efficient.
James Wade remains one of the most dependable players in this tournament once the format lengthens.
He beat Jermaine Wattimena 10-7 and Ryan Searle 10-6 to reach the quarter-finals, which is a familiar Wade route: tidy, controlled and difficult to shake.
- Prediction: James Wade to win (EVS)
This is the quarter-final where patience matters most. Van Veen has the higher upside on pure explosiveness, but Wade has the better match management, and that usually counts for plenty when the pressure starts to bite.
Best betting angles for the quarter-finals
Littler is the headline act, but the most reliable betting angle may actually sit with the longer-format specialists.
Wade and Price both have the kind of game that travels well in major-quarter-final conditions, and Anderson’s experience gives him a real edge against a Van Duijvenbode who has already had to dig deep.
For punters who want a more aggressive view, the Littler-Rock match is the obvious place to look for 180s. That one has the best chance of turning into a scoring shootout, while Price-Smith feels more suited to a handicap angle than a totals market.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
