Michael Smith crushed Rob Cross, who struggled with double trouble, to set up a blockbuster World Matchplay semi-final against Michael van Gerwen. Van Gerwen and Smith will lock horns, after overcoming Andrew Gilding and Rob Cross in their respective quarter-final clashes on Friday. The Dutch superstar defied an insipid start to topple Gilding 16-10 in…
A lethal Luke Humphries made it through to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay on Thursday after dispatching Dimitri Van den Bergh to set up a meeting with James Wade. The world champion averaged 101.21, including a spectacular 164 on his way to a 16-10 victory over ‘The Dream Maker’. He next faces 2007 champion…
Michael van Gerwen has labelled Andrew Gilding “the assassin” with ‘Goldfinger’ now plotting another upset over the Dutchman on Friday night at the World Matchplay. Gilding broke new ground in Blackpool with a resounding 11-5 success against Krzysztof Ratajski on Wednesday night, which earned him a spot in his maiden World Matchplay quarter-final. The 53-year-old…
Michael van Gerwen set up a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown against Andrew Gilding at the World Matchplay, while Michael Smith and Rob Cross also recorded wins in Blackpool on Wednesday. Van Gerwen continued his challenge for a fourth title at the Winter Gardens, defying a late fightback from a tenacious Joe Cullen to close out an…
Nathan Aspinall’s World Matchplay title defence came to an end as he lost 11-8 to James Wade and Gerwyn Price was also knocked out on Tuesday. Aspinall was playing with an elbow injury which he’s been suffering from since the latter stages of the Premier League Darts in May and he will now have treatment…
Sky Sports Darts‘ Wayne Mardle believes Luke Littler was “unfocused” during his defeat to Michael van Gerwen in the first round of the World Matchplay. Littler was making his debut at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and went into the match as slight favourite due to Van Gerwen’s inconsistent form this year. Both players averaged…
Michael van Gerwen beat Luke Littler 10-6 in their eagerly-anticipated first-round clash at the World Matchplay on Monday. In the 10th meeting between the pair, Van Gerwen proved his critics wrong after a run of disappointing form this year and denied Littler a first win on debut at the Winter Gardens. Van Gerwen was visibly…
Defending World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall survived a big scare to stumble over the line in the first round in Blackpool. Aspinall struggled with an ongoing elbow injury, which he suffered two months ago in the Premier League Darts, as he beat Luke Woodhouse 10-8 on Saturday night. The 32-year-old will have surgery after the…
Luke Littler is hopeful he can win the World Matchplay title if he overcomes Michael van Gerwen in their first-round clash in Blackpool. The Premier League champion is targeting more silverware at the Winter Gardens, where he starts with a tough opening tie against Van Gerwen, who has edged their nine head-to-head encounters 5-4. But…
Reigning champion Nathan Aspinall and World Champion Luke Humphries will headline the opening night of the 2024 World Matchplay on Saturday July 13, with the schedule of play confirmed for the showpiece event. Aspinall will begin his title defence against debutant Luke Woodhouse when the £800,000 tournament gets underway as the Stockport star bids to…
