Josh Rock and Luke Littler set up World Matchplay semi showdown
Antrim native Rock, who had beaten Michael van Gerwen on Wednesday, managed to get the better of 2021 world champion Price in the fourth quarter-final to be played at the Winter Gardens.
"I'm on cloud nine at the minute," Rock said.
"I can't wait to finally play Luke on the big stage. The darting world will be watching that game tomorrow.
"Luke is one of my close friends behind the scenes. Hopefully we both turn up, but I'm sure it will be a cracking game.
"I'm just so relieved to be in the semi-finals. Gezzy played really well tonight too, he never gave up, but wow – what a game."
Earlier, Littler produced an impressive 11-dart leg to seal a 16-14 victory over Andrew Gilding in their quarter-final.
The world champion never went behind and produced a 103.91 average.
Littler had a five-leg advantage at one point in the contest, during which he produced 18 maximums.
However, Gilding set up a tense finish - with a 160 finish the highlight of a three-leg streak by the former UK Open champion.
While Littler and Rock will now meet for a place in the final, Saturday's other best-of-33 leg semi-final sees James Wade face Jonny Clayton.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Michael Smith health update as former darts world champion forced to undergo blood tests and withdraw from tournament
MICHAEL SMITH has been forced to undergo blood tests and withdraw from tournaments amid ongoing health problems. The former world champion is set to miss Players Championships 22 and 23 and European Tour 11 and 12. Advertisement 1 Michael Smith is suffering from health issues Credit: Rex Smith has already been ruled out of the World Matchplay And it threatens to see him also miss the World Grand Prix and European Championship. Smith has arthritis in his throwing hand, problems with his foot and ankle as well as an ongoing shoulder injury. Darting Promotions said in a statement: "We have become aware over the last few days of reports/comments on social media regarding Michael and his participation in events in the near future. Advertisement READ MORE IN darts "Ourselves and Michael would like to provide a short update on the injuries which have been affecting him in recent months and assure fans that he will be back fully fit very soon. "As you are all aware Michael has been suffering with arthritis in his right hand for a while and has recently developed a problem with his left foot/ankle. "After recent blood tests this has revealed certain answers and we are now hopeful that with a course of medication these problems can be controlled in the future. "As you will have seen Michael has withdrawn from this week's events in Germany, this is due to him requiring a scan on his shoulder which was damaged at Christmas time. Advertisement Most read in Darts "This has been arranged for this week which unfortunately means he is unable to take part in the upcoming Pro Tours and European Tour qualifiers. "We feel this is now the right time to hopefully resolve the above issues and allow Michael to get back to his best and be back playing the way we all know he can." Luke Littler sends Blackpool wild as he wins World Matchplay Darts Smith, 34, revealed in January that he has had arthritis issues since he was a teenager. He said: "Feel like this is needed to be said as I'm annoyed seeing I'm finished or what's happening it's this or that. Advertisement "The last 6 weeks I've had a grade 2 AC shoulder injury and seeking physio every 2/3 days to help that but for 3/4 years I've been fighting something else. "I broke both my wrists when I was 19 and now it's catching up with me and now suffering with arthritis to my right hand. "This isn't sympathy or a cry for help. This is letting you all in to it. I've never give up or stopped from any pain. "I played a world final with a broken hand. I made a UK Open final with a hole in my groin. I've won Pro Tours and Euros with problems with my ankle. Advertisement "What this statement means is this is me opening up and letting you all know. "I didn't say earlier as I was scared of losing the Premier League or losing World Series but I wasn't picked anyway so why not now. "I see the specialist Monday and when I know you will know what will happen over the next month or so. "I'll never let anything beat me and I promise I'll be back very VERY quickly." Advertisement
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I can't believe that' – James Wade breaks etiquette in Luke Littler clash leaving darts fans fuming
JAMES WADE shocked fans by walking off the World Matchplay stage and choosing not to conduct a live post-final Sky Sports interview. The Machine was beaten 18-13 by sensational Blackpool . Advertisement 5 Luke Littler celebrated lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy on stage but Wade did not hang around for the live Sky Sports TV interview Credit: Sky Sports 5 James Wade lost a second successive major darts final to Luke Littler this year Credit: Getty 5 Littler earned £200,000 in prize money for the victory in Blackpool on Sunday night Credit: Getty It was the second time he had lost a major final to The Nuke, having been demolished 11-2 in the UK Open finale in March. The etiquette, but not protocol, is for the runners-up to receive their trophy on stage and then hang around to speak to the host broadcaster. In this case it would have been with the excellent reporter Polly James for Sky . Yet emotion clearly got the better of Wade who, once he received his silver plate off PDC chief executive Matt Porter, swiftly left the oche and went backstage. Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS It surprised TV viewers who were treated to an interview with Littler but not with the 42-year-old Aldershot ace, a father of two. It means, quite unusually, there were not quotes from Wade about how he played or what perhaps he could have done differently. Littler's victory, aged 18, means he replaced Wade in the history books as the youngest winner of the World Matchplay, one of the most coveted events on the calendar. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Advertisement Most read in Darts There are no suggestions that Wade, the new world No.5, will be fined or reprimanded for his actions as there is no obligation to speak. Yet it is good form and good manners to speak to the fans and live TV audience. Or even hang around as Littler celebrated lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy in front of the Winter Gardens audience. This is exactly what Wade – a 11-time major winner – did when he lost in the UK Open showpiece occasion at Butlin's Minehead earlier this year. Advertisement Once this event, which was broadcast on ITV , was over, he spoke glowingly about the teenager that had just destroyed him on the oche. Wade said back on the night of Sunday March 2: 'I'm the senior dart player, but he absolutely smashed me to bits! 'What can you do against that? He was the far superior player. Fair play to Luke. At the moment, he is comfortably the best or second best dart player in the world.' You wonder if his decision to walk away early will impact his chances of being selected by the PDC for the Premier League Darts competition in 2026. Advertisement 5 Wade was surpassed as the youngest World Matchplay champion by 18-year-old Littler Credit: Getty 5 The Machine is one of the legends of the sport and is now up to No.5 in the world rankings Credit: Getty That is, of course, unless he breaks into the top next year's Prem. His absence from the stage as the ticker-tape fell on Littler's head surprised fans, Advertisement James O'Hara expressed his displeasure on social media by saying: 'I can't believe Wade left the stage before Littler even lifted the trophy!' Disappointed Tom Clayton wrote a sarcastic message on X, which said: 'Nice to see Wade stay on stage to watch Littler lift the trophy. Not! Piss poor that.' And darts fan Craig Milner commented: 'Walking off stage before Littler gets his trophy says it all about him. Bit of a p****. Well done the Nuke!' Littler – who has completed the Triple Crown set – posed for photos with his parents, management and new girlfriend Faith. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Luke Littler skipping event and makes cheeky joke after finding out where it is
LUKE LITTLER plans to take a short break from darts and is not tempted to make a trip into enemy territory this week. The Nuke won the £200,000 World Matchplay in Blackpool on Sunday night and then marked the occasion by playing his Xbox computer until '3am or 4am'. Advertisement 5 Luke Littler celebrated his World Matchplay victory on Sunday night with girlfriend Faith Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 The Nuke cut a nonchalant figure when he hit a nine-darter in the World Matchplay semi-finals against Josh Rock. Credit: Getty The arrows will be left in his case now as he intends to 'chill out' at home in Warrington As he pointedly said: 'I can't wait to go home and back to normal reality.' It is a richly-deserved week off after managing to add another trophy to his superb CV. He celebrated lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy for the first time by posing for photos on stage with his parents, girlfriend Faith and management. Advertisement READ MORE DARTS NEWS People probably underestimate the mammoth effort it takes to win a darts major these days. Especially in hot and sweaty conditions at the historic Winter Gardens venue and given it was only his second tournament appearance. Given the physical and mental effort required, it is why he normally takes a week off after the top TV events and prefers to forgo the ProTour circuit, which is held behind-closed-doors. Best new sign-up offers SunSport exclusives William Hill : Claim your £60 in free bets - Betfred : Get £50 in free football bets - BetMGM : Get £40 in free bets to spend on football - talkSPORT BET: £30 in free bets are up for grabs - Tote : Grab your £40 welcome bonus - Already have these accounts? Don't worry, we've got loads more terrific deals below! Check out the latest free bets to use on football, horse racing, and lots more. On Tuesday and Wednesday there are two Players Championships in the German city of Hildesheim. Advertisement Most read in Darts Yet there is ZERO chance he will play in them, even though the points would improve his ranking position ahead of the Players Championship Finals at Butlin's Minehead in late November. As it stands, he is ranked joint 11th on the 5 In his post-final press conference, Littler said he would return to the oche for World Series of Darts trips to Australia (August 8-9) and New Zealand (August 15-16). Advertisement One journalist asked the teen sensation: 'And then ProTour (on) Tuesday?' Littler feigned mock surprise and said: 'Is there? Is there?' Dave Allen, the PDC Head of Media, injected and said: 'It's in Germany .' Littler, who hails from Warrington, joked 'Is it?' before adding: 'Nah, nah. Maybe if it was Wigan. Maybe.' Advertisement It was all said in a funny fashion but it showed his intention not to play any events until he flies Down Under. Part of the reason why he would not have fancied a visit to Germany just now is the bad reaction he gets from the fans there. 5 Littler hit a tournament record 64 maximums in his five games last week 5 Luke Littler became the youngest world darts champion, aged 17, when he won the title in January Credit: Reuters Advertisement When he played in the Berlin Premier League on April 3, he was booed by the German punters. It also happened during the German Darts Grand Prix over Easter in Munich when he was beaten in the semi-finals by Gian van Veen. After that event, emotion got the better of him and he posted on Instagram: 'Shouldn't of been in Munich but had to play anyway, next one in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say that.' Littler and Luke Humphries teamed up together to play for England at last month's Advertisement But they were dumped out of the quarter-finals 8-4 by the German pairing of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in Frankfurt. The reception they got was ear-splittingly noisy and winning in Germany is something Littler will have to overcome in the next few years, especially as the country is a powerhouse of the sport.
