World Matchplay 2026: Luke Littler reaches semi-finals with win over Josh Rock

Luke Littler’s World Matchplay title defense continued with a straight-sets 16-7 quarter-final win over Josh Rock in Blackpool.

Rock initially kept pace with the world number one as the players reached the break at 5-5.

But after 19-year-old Littler dropped five legs in a row, there was no way back for Rock as the defending champion, in scintillating form, reached the semi-finals.

After bowling 17 180s with a scoring average of 109.57, Littler said: “At the moment, everything is going to plan.”

Kishore added: “I feel good. I might miss a few doubles because there is scoring.

“Another great performance again, but fair play to Josh, he put up a good fight.”

Littler will play against unseeded Dirk van Duyvenbode of the Netherlands in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Earlier on Thursday evening, tournament outsider Van Duyvenbode survived a late surge from Gary Anderson to reach his first matchplay semi-final.

Anderson, the 2018 world matchplay champion, threatened to close an eight-leg deficit with a fine late display with a 154 checkout, but van Duyvenbode held on for a 16-13 win.

Reflecting on his second-round tie-break win over Michael van Gerwen, van Duyvenbode said shaking “like a little baby crying for his mother” allowed his compatriot to claw his way back into the match after leading 8-4.

After leading 8-4 again on Thursday, Van Duyvenbode dropped two legs in a row but then won the next six without reply to go up 14-6.

However, it would be nine more legs until Van Duyvenbode won the tie as a resurgent Anderson pushed him hard.