Mens Matchplay
World Matchplay Semi-Finals Predictions 2026: Littler Looking Unstoppable In Blackpool
The World Matchplay has landed at the sharp end, and Saturday’s semi-finals bring a proper mix of styles and storylines at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Luke Littler, the defending champion, goes in as the player everyone else is trying to catch, while Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen meet in the other half of the draw with a place in Sunday’s final on the line.
Littler reached the last four by beating Josh Rock 16-7 with 17 180s and a 109.57 average, a display that looked every bit like a champion settling into full control.
Dirk van Duijvenbode took a very different route, surviving a late push from Gary Anderson to win 16-13 and book his first Matchplay semi-final.
Luke Littler vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
Littler has looked brutally efficient all week, and the key detail is that he is doing it without needing perfection on the doubles. He said after beating Rock that he could afford a few misses because the scoring has been doing the heavy lifting, and that is exactly the kind of warning sign the rest of the field will not want to hear.
Van Duijvenbode brings power of his own, and that gives this match more intrigue than the market might first suggest. He has already shown he can stand up to big names in Blackpool, and the open question is whether he can keep forcing Littler into long stretches rather than letting the defending champion run away with the leg count.
A close first session would change the whole feel of the tie. Littler has been overwhelming opponents when he gets rolling, but a long format still gives Van Duijvenbode room to make the contest messy, especially if he keeps scoring strongly enough to stay on the board early.
What decides the match
Littler’s route is straightforward: dominate the scoring, keep pressure on the Van Duijvenbode throw, and let the Dutchman chase him.
Van Duijvenbode’s route is narrower, but it is there if he can make the champion earn every hold and stop the match turning into another one-way night.
Gerwyn Price vs Gian van Veen
Price arrives in the semi-finals with a solid case that he has timed his best work for the right stage.
He beat Ross Smith 16-12 with a 102.78 average after Smith clawed back from 12-8 to 12-12, and that response told you plenty about Price’s current mood. He did not fold, and he did not drift.
Van Veen’s quarter-final was much tighter emotionally. He led James Wade 11-7, saw the match dragged back to 11-11, then found the decisive gear again to win 16-13.
That sort of recovery matters in a tournament like this, but it also leaves a question about how much strain he has absorbed before meeting a player as stubborn as Price.
Price’s advantage looks obvious on recent evidence. He has the bigger Matchplay experience, the stronger power scoring profile, and the clearer habit of raising his level when the pressure spikes.
Van Veen has the talent to make that irrelevant for spells, but he will need a cleaner start than he managed against Wade if he wants this one to become a final on Sunday.
Where Van Veen can make it awkward
Van Veen does not need to outmuscle Price to stay in touch. He needs his finishing to keep landing at the right moments and his scoring to avoid the flat patches that give Price time to build momentum. If that happens, the match can stretch deep enough to turn nervy for both players.
Betting angles and match shape
The sharper betting angle in Littler’s semi-final is not necessarily a shock winner, but the total legs market. A long format suits the idea of Van Duijvenbode doing enough to keep the match competitive, even if Littler still finishes on top.
Price against Van Veen feels more volatile. Price has the stronger recent average and the more convincing quarter-final, but Van Veen has already shown in this event that he can survive awkward spells and still find a way through.
That makes the over options more interesting than a simple winner call, especially if both men settle early.
Final outlook
Littler remains the man to beat because the title defence has looked calm rather than frantic. Price, though, has the tools to make life difficult for anyone if his scoring stays where it was against Smith.
If both favourites do what they have been doing so far, Sunday’s final should have the edge and quality Blackpool wants.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
