Last night saw Gian Van Veen progress to the semi-finals after defeating James Wade 16-13 in a closely fought affair, whilst Gerwyn Price beat Ross Smith 16-12. The two were vying for a place in the final, whilst Littler looked to make it yet another by beating Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Semi-final one – Price vs Van Veen – as it happened
After the first five legs, it’s Gerwyn Price leaving the stage the happier of the two, finding himself 4-1 up against The Giant. The game picked up in the fifth leg, with both Van Veen and Price finding a 180, before the latter checked out at 125. The game is still open as both players look to settle into a rhythm which the game has lacked so far. Stray throws and missed finishes have slowed the momentum slightly, but as aforementioned, it’s picking up.
Gerwyn Price came flying out of the blocks after the break, going 6-1 up. However, now at the second break of the game and ten legs in, The Iceman only finds himself up by two after three successive legs going the way of Gian Van Veen, who is definitely landing more of his treble 20 visits than earlier in the game. The score goes the way of Price, but the momentum may be with Van Veen as the Dutchman finished the set with a double one after five missed finishes.
Van Veen came within one at 6-5 before Price broke his momentum by winning the next two to make it 8-5. Van Veen has been inconsistent, and whilst both players have not played with the ability we know they have, Gerwyn Price has just been getting legs over the line and taking advantage of Van Veen’s mistakes. Still anybody’s game, with neither taking full control, at the third break, the score is 9-6, and we sit four apiece on 180s.
At the fourth break of the evening, Gerwyn Price will certainly feel disappointed that he doesn’t yet have one hand on a place in the World Matchplay Final. The Welshman found himself 4 legs up at 11-7 and limited Van Veen to just four finishes across the five legs. But the Dutchman hit three of them to bring the score at the break to 11-9. Certainly not a game of exhilarating play, but this is a game that’s going to be won in moments. The finishing certainly hasn’t been up to standard, but Price is giving himself plenty of throws at a finish, whereas Van Veen hasn’t been getting there as often.
Price found himself four legs up again at 13-9. But this time continued to win his third successive leg with a 12-darter to go five legs up and within touching distance of a game against, most likely, Luke Littler in the final. Then, he went five legs up. 14-9. Then six. 15-9. Gerwyn Price was flying. 2 legs away. Van Veen won the next. His finishing has been good in the latter stages, but he’s just having so few chances at it. Gerwyn Price hit back and has been consistently hitting 140s. One leg away. He can smell it. Van Veen should have got one back but missed more darts at a finish than he could afford and Price punished, finishing the match on a fitting double twenty. 17-10 Price.
This game saw Price move to world number four, ahead of Johnny Clayton, to make him the highest-ranked Welshman. On to the next game, Littler vs van Duijvenbode to face Gerwyn Price in the final.
Semi-final two – Littler vs Van Duijvenbode – as it happened
As expected, Luke Littler flew out of the blocks, averaging over 131 after two legs. Van Duijvenbode managed one leg of the opening five. Not much to say after the first five; Littler is doing what he does best, and Van Duijvenbode is left bewildered at the natural ability of the nineteen-year-old. The only takeaway thus far is that he is getting chances to finish, but succumbing to the pressure. If Van Duijvenbode can start finishing the limited chances he’s getting at a leg, he can put a bit more pressure on Littler and stop this from being a total domination.
After another set of five, we sit at 8-2, another 4 for Littler, another one for Van Duijvenbode. The Dutchman has certainly upped his game, but it still just isn’t enough to break Littler. He has to begin punishing Littler in the legs where the Brit is struggling, if he’s going to have any chance of turning this around.
Dirk Van Duijvenbode began the third set of five with a 180 and an impressive 142 checkout, making it 8-3. Despite a poor third session from Littler by his standards, he heads into the fourth and final break 12-3 up with 10 180s. As I said, poor by his standards. Littler is missing his mark, but Van Duijvenbode just isn’t there to mop up when he does so. That said, Littler is looking likely to surpass Phil Taylor’s record average of 114.99 against Barry Bates in 2010.
Littler continued his thrashing, entering the fourth and final break 16-4 up. There isn’t really much point in the break, as the next leg will likely be the last. Littler is too good. Of course, against a player such as Gerwyn, there may at least be some competition. But it’s difficult to imagine Luke Littler not winning tomorrow night and making it back-to-back World Matchplay titles.
After the break, it was Dirk Van Duijvenbode who took the first leg. However, Luke Littler is currently on a nine-darter for a place in the final; he couldn’t, could he? He could not. Littler, however, does take the leg with his first effort at tops and wins the match 17-5. A great tournament for Van Duijvenbode, but ultimately, Luke Littler is a force to be reckoned with. He will face Gerwyn Price tomorrow night in the World Matchplay final in Blackpool.
