The World Matchplay quarter-finals conclude on Friday night as four players compete for the final two places in the last four at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
Defending champion Luke Littler and Dirk van Duijvenbode have already secured their semi-final places. Littler produced another commanding performance to defeat Josh Rock 16-7, while Van Duijvenbode continued his impressive run with a 16-13 victory over Gary Anderson.
That leaves Ross Smith against Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen against James Wade as the two remaining quarter-finals.
Both matches carry genuine uncertainty. Price and Van Veen entered the tournament as seeded contenders, but Smith’s scoring power and Wade’s outstanding record in Blackpool make straightforward predictions difficult.
The Friday session begins at 8pm BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The official PDC World Matchplay page provides the latest tournament information, while the updated Sky Sports World Matchplay schedule lists the confirmed results and remaining fixtures.
Readers unfamiliar with the tournament’s scoring system can also find a full breakdown in the World in Sport guide to darts rules, doubles and checkouts.
World Matchplay quarter-final schedule and predictions
| Match | Start time | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Smith v Gerwyn Price | From 8pm BST | Price to win 16-12 |
| Gian van Veen v James Wade | Follows | Wade to win 16-14 |
The quarter-finals are played over the best of 31 legs, with the first player to reach 16 taking the match under normal circumstances.
However, a player must win by two clear legs. That condition creates the possibility of an extended contest if the score reaches 15-15.
The longer format rewards concentration, controlled scoring and reliable finishing. A player can recover from a poor session, but repeated missed doubles become increasingly difficult to survive.
World in Sport’s guide to darts legs and sets explains why momentum can change so quickly across longer matches.
Ross Smith v Gerwyn Price preview
Ross Smith enters his quarter-final in unusual circumstances after Cameron Menzies became unwell during their second-round contest.
Menzies had led 2-1 when he could not continue, resulting in Smith progressing to the quarter-finals. The important news was that Menzies received medical attention before returning to his accommodation.
Smith now faces the challenge of returning to the stage without having completed a full second-round match. He should be physically fresh, but Price has enjoyed more meaningful time at the oche during the tournament.
Price needed extra legs to overcome Martin Schindler 11-9 in the opening round. He then raised his level to defeat Rob Cross 11-5, producing a much more controlled performance against a former world champion.
Smith began his campaign with a convincing 10-6 win over Kevin Doets. His scoring remains his greatest weapon. Few players can build pressure through repeated maximums as quickly as the 15th seed.
That scoring could keep Price under pressure, particularly if Smith establishes his rhythm early. He must still convert those heavy visits into breaks of throw, however, because Price rarely allows opponents to escape after missed opportunities.
Price brings more experience of the tournament’s latter stages. The Welshman has previously reached the World Matchplay final and understands how to manage the longer format when a match becomes tense.
His intensity can also work in his favour. When Price settles into a strong scoring rhythm and begins converting combination finishes, he can take several legs before an opponent has time to respond.
Smith’s freshness creates an intriguing factor, but his disrupted route into the quarter-finals may leave him searching for rhythm during the opening session.
Price looks more likely to control the middle stages and earn the decisive breaks.
Prediction: Gerwyn Price to win 16-12.
Gian van Veen v James Wade preview
Gian van Veen and James Wade meet in a repeat of their 2025 World Matchplay quarter-final.
Wade won that contest 16-13 before reaching the final, where Littler denied him a second title in Blackpool. Van Veen now has an opportunity to reverse that result and demonstrate how far he has developed over the past year.
The Dutchman opened his 2026 campaign with a 10-6 victory over Krzysztof Ratajski. His second-round meeting with Wessel Nijman proved considerably more demanding.
Van Veen eventually prevailed 14-12 after a long all-Dutch contest that moved well beyond the standard race to 11. It tested his composure, but it also exposed periods in which his scoring and finishing became less reliable.
Wade followed a 10-7 opening victory over Jermaine Wattimena by beating Ryan Searle 11-8.
The 2007 World Matchplay champion has reached the final seven times, giving him one of the strongest records in the tournament’s history. Few active players appear as comfortable with the conditions or atmosphere at the Winter Gardens.
Wade does not always match younger opponents for maximum scoring. Instead, he stays within striking distance, protects his throw and punishes missed doubles.
That approach becomes particularly effective over 31 legs. An opponent may outscore Wade for long spells and still discover that the score remains level because he continues to take out finishes at important moments.
Van Veen possesses the higher scoring ceiling. He can create separation quickly when his first dart finds the treble 20 and should generate more maximums than Wade.
The key question is whether he can maintain that level across the whole contest. His demanding victory over Nijman showed resilience, although it also suggested that Wade will receive opportunities.
Van Veen cannot afford to leave routine finishes on the board. Wade has built much of his career around converting precisely those moments into stolen legs and decisive breaks.
This should be the tighter of Friday’s two quarter-finals. Van Veen may lead during the early stages, but Wade’s experience, finishing and remarkable relationship with the venue could make the difference late in the match.
Prediction: James Wade to win 16-14.
Littler and Van Duijvenbode await in the semi-finals
Littler reinforced his position as the tournament favourite with a 16-7 victory over Rock.
The defending champion averaged more than 109 and struck 17 maximums during another powerful display. It followed an extraordinary second-round performance against Nathan Aspinall in which Littler hit a nine-darter and recorded a 113.68 average.
Van Duijvenbode will provide his next challenge after defeating Anderson 16-13. The Dutchman has already removed Chris Dobey, Michael van Gerwen and Anderson from the tournament.
That route alone commands respect. Van Duijvenbode has repeatedly survived difficult moments and will not enter the semi-final expecting simply to make up the numbers.
Nevertheless, Littler’s scoring has operated at another level. His ability to combine relentless maximum hitting with increasingly reliable finishing makes him the clear favourite to reach Sunday’s final.
The other semi-final will feature the winners of Friday’s two matches. Based on the quarter-final predictions, that would produce a meeting between Price and Wade.
Who is the favourite to win the World Matchplay?
Littler remains the player to beat.
He has already recorded three averages above 109 during his title defence and appears comfortable with the expectation surrounding him. His victory over Rock showed that he can sustain an elite scoring level across the longer format.
Van Duijvenbode brings confidence and resilience, while Price has the aggression and scoring power to trouble any remaining player. Wade also possesses the tournament experience to turn another deep run into a place in the final.
However, each contender may need Littler’s level to fall before the trophy race truly opens.
The increased 2026 prize fund stands at £1 million, with the champion receiving £225,000.
The financial rewards and ranking implications are covered in greater detail in World in Sport’s guide to PDC darts prize money.
Predicted route to the World Matchplay title
Quarter-final predictions:
Gerwyn Price to beat Ross Smith 16-12.
James Wade to beat Gian van Veen 16-14.
Semi-final predictions:
Luke Littler to beat Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Gerwyn Price to beat James Wade.
Tournament prediction:
Luke Littler to retain the World Matchplay title.
Predictions remain uncertain in a tournament where one missed double can transform an entire match. However, Littler’s sustained scoring, finishing and confidence make him the strongest selection among the six remaining players.
Friday’s quarter-finals should still offer two very different contests. Smith and Price are capable of producing a high-scoring shootout, while Van Veen and Wade could deliver a tactical battle decided by composure on the doubles.
Fans can follow further previews, results and reaction through World in Sport’s dedicated darts news and analysis section.
