Summary

  • World Matchplay semi-finals in Blackpool

  • Luke Littler defeats Josh Rock 17-14 to set up final against James Wade

  • Littler hits 2025 tournament's first nine-darter

  • James Wade beats Jonny Clayton 20-18 in epic encounter

  • Littler v Wade in Sunday's final at the Winter Gardens (20:00 BST)

  • Get Involved: #bbcdarts, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Littler nine-darter helps him into final with Wadepublished at 23:30 British Summer Time 26 July

    Luke LittlerImage source, PDC/Taylor Lanning

    That's your lot for tonight, folks! But as you can see below, we've got another great day of darts to look forward to tomorrow.

    Beau Greaves will be targeting a third straight victory in the Women's World Matchplay in the afternoon before James Wade and Luke Littler battle it out in the men's final tomorrow evening.

    If you missed any of tonight's mesmerising action, fear not, you can read all about it in Frank Keogh's excellent report here.

    We'll be back to see if it will be Littler completing the Triple Crown or Wade winning his second Matchplay, 18 years on from the first. So be sure to join us for that!

  2. Sunday's schedulepublished at 23:26 British Summer Time 26 July

    Women's World Matchplay (13:00 BST)

    Quarter-finals (best of seven legs)

    • Beau Greaves v Kirsi Viinikainen
    • Lisa Ashton v Robyn Byrne
    • Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Lorraine Winstanley
    • Fallon Sherrock v Gemma Hayter

    Semi-finals (best of nine legs)

    • Greaves or Viinikainen v Ashton or Byrne
    • Van Leuven or Winstanley v Sherrock or Hayter

    Final (best of 11 legs, 16:00)

    Men's Matchplay final (best of 35 legs, 20:15)

    • James Wade v Luke Littler
  3. Semi-final resultspublished at 23:23 British Summer Time 26 July

    All of which means these are your semi-final results...

    • James Wade 20-18 Jonny Clayton
    • Luke Littler 17-14 Josh Rock

    It's a repeat of the UK Open final. Littler won that one, will Wade get his revenge tomorrow?

  4. Best Matchplay semi-finals ever?published at 23:20 British Summer Time 26 July

    What a night it has been! I can't remember seeing two semi-finals as good as that back-to-back.

    The evening started with James Wade staving off a miraculous comeback from Jonny Clayton - the Welshman won six legs on the spin to level at 16-16 - to advance after extra legs.

    Then Luke Littler and Josh Rock produced the fireworks they promised.

    A combined 29 180s between them and Littler coming from 5-0 down to progress after hitting a nine-darter in an absolutely stunning leg in which both players were perfect.

  5. What is the World Matchplay prize money?published at 23:15 British Summer Time 26 July

    Luke Humphries celebrates with the trophy after winning 2024 World MatchplayImage source, Getty Images

    So what are Luke Littler and James Wade playing for tomorrow? Apart from the Phil Taylor Trophy...

    The winner of the 2025 World Matchplay will take home £200,000 in prize money from the tournament's prize pool of £800,000.

    The runner-up will win £100,000, with two losing semi-finalists securing £50,000 each.

    An exit in the quarter-finals earns players £30,000 each, while those knocked out in the second round will secure £15,000 each.

    Those beaten in the first round will take home £10,000.

  6. 'It all comes down to tomorrow'published at 23:11 British Summer Time 26 July

    Result: Littler 17-14 Rock

    Luke Littler speaking to Sky Sports: "It was an incredible game. I wasn't happy at 5-0 down, it was a slow start but I picked myself up. I wouldn't say Josh fell off but those first five legs from him were unbelievable. I just said to myself 'you can do it, you have been here before' - and I've done it again."

    On what he said to himself when he made it 10-10: "As soon as I got into the lead, I just had to break and hold and get that two-leg advantage which I did and hold my own throw."

    On the perfect leg: "It definitely sparked me into life. I didn't want to give it big because I was playing awful. At that point I wanted to go into the break at 6-4 but I went in 7-3 down. I said to myself I could do it and that's what I've done.

    On the Triple Crown: "Everybody knows about the Triple Crown but James Wade - you can't put anything past him. He has been playing some brilliant darts but I am relaxed and we are back tomorrow."

    On James Wade: "He has played really well but having that winning feeling over him from the UK Open will give me some confidence. I've won many finals and majors but this is the big one now, it all comes down to tomorrow."

  7. Postpublished at 23:08 British Summer Time 26 July

    Result: Littler 17-14 Rock

    Spare a thought for Josh Rock.

    He was brilliant, raced into a 5-0 lead and didn't do a whole lot wrong.

    An average of 104.15, 14 180s and 28 140-plus visits. You can expect to see him in plenty more major semi-finals in the coming years.

    But Littler's average was higher at 107.5, he hit 15 180s and his finishing was fractionally better, too - 34.7% on the outer ring to Rock's 34.1%.

    Oh, and he hit a nine-darter in one of the best legs of darts you will ever see!

  8. Postpublished at 23:06 British Summer Time 26 July

    Result: Littler 17-14 Rock

    Dan Dawson
    Commentator on Sky Sports

    Who can stop this kid? He is one win away from winning this trophy for the first time.

  9. Littler sets up final against Wadepublished at 23:01 British Summer Time 26 July
    Breaking

    Littler 17-14 Rock

    Luke Littler celebrates after beating Josh RockImage source, Getty Images

    Luke Littler is a win away from completing the Triple Crown!

    A magnificent 11-dart break of throw to clinch victory. Phenomenal skill and resilience on show in equal measure from the world champion.

    From 5-0 down, Littler comes through to win with an average of 107.5.

    He's through to his first World Matchplay final.

  10. Littler one leg away...published at 23:00 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 16-14 Rock

    Luke Littler makes a bit of a mess of things when in a dominant position.

    That lets Josh Rock get down to four with a 180 but Littler returns and gets double 10 at the second attempt.

  11. Postpublished at 22:59 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 15-14 Rock

    It's back to one leg between them.

    Something of a steal for Josh Rock after Luke Littler got down to 70 but misses his dart at tops.

    Rock takes a deep breath and finds double 10.

  12. Postpublished at 22:57 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 15-13 Rock

    Pressure? What pressure?

    Luke Littler with a regulation hold if such a thing exists at this stage of a major semi-final.

    13-darter.

    Luke Littler celebrates after winning a legImage source, PDC/Taylor Lanning
  13. Postpublished at 22:56 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 14-13 Rock

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    Proper darts this. What a night of darts this has been.

  14. Rock takes out 120!published at 22:56 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 14-13 Rock

    Game on again!

    Well, well, well. Josh Rock has got himself right back into this semi-final.

    The break he'd just got back looked set to disappear as Luke Littler got himself down to needing tops for a 139.

    But he missed and Rock takes out 120 to move to within a leg of the world champion.

  15. Postpublished at 22:54 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 14-12 Rock

    Dan Dawson
    Commentator on Sky Sports

    Josh Rock is not going down without a fight!

  16. Rock reels in the big fish!published at 22:54 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 14-12 Rock

    How on earth has that happened?

    Luke Littler was cruising, knocking in another 180 with ease and all set to go within two legs of the final.

    But two misses - at tops and double 10 - give Josh Rock a look at the big fish.

    Treble 20, treble 20, bullseye! Rock takes out 170 to break and celebrates keeping himself in this one!

  17. Postpublished at 22:52 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 14-11 Rock

    Josh Rock is still hanging in there.

    A good solid hold from the 24-year-old. Double nine is found for a 13-darter.

  18. Postpublished at 22:51 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 14-10 Rock

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    The double 10s have dialled in now for Littler.

    Luke Littler reacts against Josh RockImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 22:51 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 14-10 Rock

    Luke Littler is closing in.

    There has been a nine-leg swing. From 5-0 down, he's 14-10 up and three legs from his first Matchplay final.

    A straightforward hold.

  20. Littler breaks againpublished at 22:50 British Summer Time 26 July

    Littler 13-10 Rock

    Josh Rock will not be happy with himself.

    He has three darts and only 32 needed but misses double 16 twice then double eight.

    Big misses and Luke Littler is there to pounce, hitting double 10 to break.