Mens Matchplay
World Matchplay Final Prediction 2026: Luke Littler vs Gerwyn Price Betting Tips
Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price meet in the 2026 World Matchplay final at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, with Littler aiming to defend the title he won in 2025.
The final is a best-of-35-leg match, so the shorter burst that often decides a semi-final will matter less than who keeps the level through the grind.
Littler has been relentless all week. He beat Niko Springer, Nathan Aspinall, Josh Rock and Dirk van Duijvenbode on the way to the final, and his semi-final demolition of van Duijvenbode came with a 110.88 average, 16 180s and a 50 per cent checkout rate.
He has already gone past £3 million in prize money, a milestone that underlines just how quickly he keeps stacking up elite results.
Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price Odds:
- Luke Littler – 1/9
- Gerwyn Price – 11/2
Price has earned this shot properly. He beat Martin Schindler, Rob Cross, Ross Smith and Gian van Veen, and his semi-final win over van Veen was his first TV ranking final in three years.
He also moved back to world No 4 and reclaimed Welsh No 1 status from Jonny Clayton, which adds a little extra heat to a final that did not need much help in that department.
What the numbers say about the matchup
Littler’s scoring power has been the headline all week, but the detail matters too. He has averaged at least 109 in every match before the final and was even threatening Phil Taylor’s Matchplay benchmark during the van Duijvenbode rout.
That kind of baseline makes him the obvious favourite, especially over a format long enough to punish any player who starts slowly.
Price’s route has looked more rugged, but that does not make it less dangerous. He has found ways to turn pressure into momentum, and the final can suit that kind of response if Littler ever goes through a patch where the trebles wobble or the doubling cools off.
Price also tends to raise the emotional volume in big matches, and that edge can matter when the first few legs are tight.
The cleanest betting angle is Littler to win, with the more interesting question being the margin. The market logic is simple: Price can stay in the game, but Littler has been producing a higher floor and a higher ceiling.
Best betting angles for the final
Littler to win the match
The straight result is still the most natural pick. Littler has been the more complete player in Blackpool and has already handled several styles on the way to the final, from Springer’s pace to Price’s opposite-side pressure in terms of temperament.
If you want one selection and one selection only, this is the one that fits the evidence.
Littler to win with Price competitive
A cleaner way to play the final is to back Littler and expect Price to keep the score respectable. Littler has been finishing strongly, but Price has shown enough resilience to avoid a one-sided script unless his doubles go missing early.
A closer scoreline than a blowout feels the safer read, even if Littler still gets the trophy.
Littler match 180s and scoring markets
Littler’s 16 maximums in the semi-final, plus the repeated 109-plus averages earlier in the week, make his scoring markets look far more appealing than the match-result markets alone.
If your angle is built around data rather than gut feel, his 180 count and high-average profile are the sharpest parts of the board.
Why Price can still make this awkward
Price is not getting this far by accident. He has rediscovered enough authority to beat high-quality opposition and, crucially, he has done it through the kind of pressure moments that separate a nice run from a real final appearance.
That matters in Blackpool, where a player who can annoy Littler in the first third of the match can sometimes make the favourite work harder than expected.
The problem for Price is that Littler has turned great matches into ordinary-looking wins. When a player averages 110.88 and still leaves the impression that he could have gone higher, the other finalist needs either a big drop-off or a near-perfect night on the doubles.
Price can absolutely make the final entertaining, but he may need Littler to slow down rather than simply hoping to speed him up.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
