When looking for the darts semi final time, there were two great semi-finals of the Betfred World Matchplay 2026, which took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The four finalists included Gerwyn Price, Gian van Veen, Luke Littler, and Dirk van Duijvenbode.
These semi-finals took place on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The two winners went to the final match of the World Matchplay 2026 that was played on Sunday, July 26. Gerwyn Price won against Gian van Veen 17-10, while Luke Littler (defending champion) won 17-5 against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
What Time Is the Darts Semi-Final?
The semi-finals of the 2026 World Matchplay took place on Saturday, July 25, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
In contrast to a game that is held within a certain time period, dart games may be of different lengths according to the number of legs. This is why the exact start time of the semi-final depends on the official schedule of the session and the completion of the preceding match or round.
The crucial day for the fans was Saturday, July 25, when four finalists played their way into the finals. According to the official schedule of the PDC, July 25 is the date of the semi-finals.
It should be noted for Indian readers that there is a difference between the time of the session and the match. The second semi-final will start after the first one.
Darts Semi-Final Schedule
The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay ran through the second half of July, with the semi-finals taking place one day before the tournament final.
2026 World Matchplay Semi-Final Schedule
| Match | Players | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-Final 1 | Gerwyn Price vs Gian van Veen | Price won 17–10 |
| Semi-Final 2 | Luke Littler vs Dirk van Duijvenbode | Littler won 17–5 |
Both matches took place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Both games were officially registered by the PDC tournament center.
The winners, who were Price and Littler, then qualified for the finals on Sunday, July 26.
Darts Semi-Final Date and Start Time
The 2026 World Matchplay semi-finals would take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
It must be emphasized that the PDC fixture should be considered the main source of information regarding the session start time because a session for professional darts can include several matches, each having a different duration.
The 2026 World Matchplay final would be held on Sunday, July 26 at 7:00 PM BST, according to the PDC preview.
Thus, concerning the semi-finals, one needs to pay attention to the session on Saturday evening rather than consider the idea that both matches would start simultaneously.
Such information is helpful for those who need to know about “darts semi-final time”.
Darts Semi-Final Matches
Gerwyn Price vs Gian van Veen
The first semi-final match was between Welsh professional Gerwyn Price and Dutch professional Gian van Veen.
Van Veen had made a very successful run to the semi-finals by defeating the experienced former World Matchplay champion James Wade in the quarter-finals. Gerwyn Price was able to qualify for the semi-finals from the quarter-finals stage.
The semi-final was a chance for van Veen to make it to a major PDC final; however, the experience of Price proved decisive.
Price managed to defeat van Veen 17–10 and qualified for the World Matchplay final. This is what the official PDC report stated about the results of the match and referred to as the way for Price into the final.
This particular win was important in the sense that it allowed Price to enter a major final tournament.
Luke Littler vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
The other semi-final match was between the defending champion, Luke Littler, and the Dutch player Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Throughout the tournament, Littler was one of the major draws for the tournament and showed excellent performance in Blackpool.
Van Duijvenbode also did well in the tournament and managed to reach the semi-final stage by beating experienced players in the previous stages.
However, Littler was too good for van Duijvenbode.
The defending champion performed well and beat Dirk van Duijvenbode by 17-5. The PDC report confirms that the win enabled Luke Littler to qualify for the final against Gerwyn Price.
This result allowed the defending champion to continue defending the title since he was one match away from another World Matchplay championship.
Who Reached the 2026 Darts Final?
The two semi-finalists who won their matches were:
- Gerwyn Price, who beat Gian van Veen by 17-10
- Luke Littler, who beat Dirk van Duijvenbode by 17-5
Therefore, the final match of the 2026 World Matchplay would feature Luke Littler versus Gerwyn Price.
The final would be scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2026, in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, and the PDC calendar would have the match commence at 7:00 pm BST.
Thus, there would be an interesting final match because Luke Littler would come into the final match as the current champion of the World Matchplay, while Gerwyn Price would be seeking yet another title.
Where to Watch the Darts Semi-Finals
World Matchplay is an essential event for the PDC, and it is broadcast via its broadcasting and live streaming partners around the world.
Within the UK, coverage of the event is done through Sky Sports. Broadcasting deals could be different according to different territories; therefore, those residing outside the UK should look for the relevant broadcasters from their respective countries.
Score information can be obtained from the PDC World Matchplay Tournament Hub.
For better scheduling information, it is advised that the official PDC website be used rather than any other third-party schedules, as timings may vary.
Darts Semi-Final Format and Rules
The World Matchplay uses a legs format in comparison with a sets format.
In semi-finals, the players compete over a greater distance, and the match becomes the best of 33 legs.
It means that the player who scores 17 legs wins the match.
Such a format implies that the consistency becomes critical. The players have to play in a certain way over a far greater number of legs than at the beginning of the competition.
Even the player who is trailing can get back on track and the player who leads has to finish the match playing well.
It becomes another reason why the exact duration of a semi-final cannot be estimated.
How Long Does a Darts Semi-Final Last?
There is no specified duration of a semi-final of the World Matchplay tournament.
A match duration depends on various factors such as:
- Legs played
- Speed of scoring
- Percentage of checkouts
- Legs played close to the maximum number
- Breaks between legs
- Pace of the participants
For instance, a match that ends with the score 17-5 will most probably have fewer legs than a match that goes further in the play.
This is significant when it comes to watching the second semi-final since its starting time will depend on when the first one ends.
Thus, the spectators need to refer to the official schedule by the PDC and then watch the live match updates.
2026 Darts Semi-Final Results
Here is a quick overview of the confirmed results:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2026 Betfred World Matchplay |
| Semi-Final Date | Saturday, July 25, 2026 |
| Venue | Winter Gardens, Blackpool |
| Semi-Final 1 | Gerwyn Price vs Gian van Veen |
| Result | Gerwyn Price won 17–10 |
| Semi-Final 2 | Luke Littler vs Dirk van Duijvenbode |
| Result | Luke Littler won 17–5 |
| Finalists | Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price |
| Final Date | Sunday, July 26, 2026 |
| Final Start | 7:00 PM BST |
The semi-final results are recorded on the official PDC tournament hub and confirmed in the PDC’s semi-final report.
Why the World Matchplay Semi-Finals Matter
Getting to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay is a huge success in professional darts.
This event is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the PDC schedule and has traditionally been played at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. The competitors fight not only for cash prizes but also for one of the most recognisable cups in the game.
By the time of the semi-finals, there are only four participants left. All players thus have only one victory between themselves and the final.
In 2026, among the finalists, there were both the experienced players and some emerging Dutch talent. Both Price and Littler managed to withstand the pressure better than the others and to get into the championship final.
For Littler, the victory in the semi-finals was especially important as it helped him retain the title. For Price, the victory meant access to yet another big final.
Conclusion
The semi-finals of the 2026 World Matchplay of darts competition happened on Saturday, July 25, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. These four players included Gerwyn Price, Gian van Veen, Luke Littler and Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Gerwyn Price won against Gian van Veen 17-10, and Luke Littler successfully defended his title with a resounding 17-5 win against Dirk van Duijvenbode. This gave way to a final between Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price on Sunday, July 26.
FAQ’s
When were the semi-finals of the 2026 World Matchplay?
The semi-finals took place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Who took part in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Matchplay?
The four semi-finalists included Gerwyn Price, Gian van Veen, Luke Littler and Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Who was the winner of the first semi-final?
Gerwyn Price beat Gian van Veen 17–10.
Who was the winner of the second semi-final?
Luke Littler beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 17–5.
Who qualified for the final of the 2026 World Matchplay?
Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price made it to the final having won their semi-finals.
How many legs are played in a World Matchplay semi-final?
There are 33 legs in a semi-final which means that whoever wins 17 legs is the winner.
Also read about: Dutch Darts Players: Top Stars, World Champions, Legends & Rising Talents