Live Darts on Saturday | Betfred World Matchplay Semi-Finals Preview and Order of Play
The final four face off at the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay in Blackpool Saturday in a quest to keep their title dream alive at the Winter Gardens.
A fascinating semi-final line-up sees two veterans of the sport and two box office young stars collide on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.
The opening match of the night features a showdown between 2007 champion James Wade and 2023 runner-up Jonny Clayton.
Wade has underlined his remarkable longevity by winning through to a tenth semi-final in what is his 20th appearance in the Betfred World Matchplay.
The 42-year-old is eyeing a place in his seventh World Matchplay final – a tally bettered only by Phil Taylor – and what would be a second major final of the season following on from the UK Open in March.
The left-hander produced, statistically, his best-ever display in this event when he thrashed Joe Cullen 10-3 with a 104.4 average in Round One, before following up with a 102.5 average in an 11-5 dismantling of Wessel Nijman.
He then overcame the test of World Youth Champion Gian van Veen with a battling 16-13 success in Thursday’s quarter-finals, taking his tournament checkout percentage above 50.
Standing in the way of ‘The Machine’ and another title at the Matchplay title is fifth seed Clayton – who is appearing in his third consecutive major ranking semi-final.
Runner-up at the Winmau World Masters and semi-finalist at the UK Open, Clayton was also runner-up alongside Gerwyn Price for Wales at the World Cup of Darts last month.
The multiple major winner has continued his blistering run of form in Blackpool and is now just one win away from successfully defending his runner-up prize money from two years ago against his Order of Merit tally.
Clayton kicked off his campaign with a high quality 10-7 win over Martin Schindler, before battling past World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker 11-8 and going on to thrash Stephen Bunting 16-7.
The second semi-final features a mouth-watering first competitive meeting between reigning World Champion Luke Littler and former World Youth Champion Josh Rock.
Littler is bidding to join Luke Humphries as the latest player to secure an illustrious Triple Crown alongside his World Championship and Premier League triumphs.
UK Open and Belgian Open champion this year, Littler registered his first win on the Winter Gardens stage at the expense of a helpless Ryan Searle, averaging 109 in a 10-2 demolition, before recovering from 7-2 down to deny a spirited Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a thrilling tie break.
The 18-year-old maintained his quest to become the youngest champion in the tournament’s history by fending off a spirited Andrew Gilding fightback to seal a 16-14 success on Friday with a staggering 18 maximums to his name.
Having failed to win a match in either of his two previous visits to the Winter Gardens, Rock has broken new ground in Blackpool with a trio of blistering performances.
The Northern Irishman has sustained the form which led him to World Cup glory alongside Daryl Gurney last month by storming into his second successive major ranking semi-final, following on from the UK Open in Minehead.
Rock got off and running with a 104 average in a 10-5 success over Ross Smith in Round One, before battling back to edge out three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 13-11 in a gripping tie break.
He then pulled off one of the biggest wins of his singles career to date by ousting 2022 finalist Gerwyn Price 16-11 with a 104 average on Friday night.
The action gets under way from 8pm BST, with Semi-Final matches to be contested over the best of 33 legs.
Matches will be extended if necessary for a maximum of six extra legs before a sudden death leg is required.
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World Matchplay 2025 Semi-Finals Schedule of Play
Saturday July 26
8pm-11pm
James Wade v Jonny Clayton
Luke Littler v Josh Rock
