Luke Littler is positioning himself to become one of darts’ dominant figures, drawing comparisons to his idol, 16-time world champion Phil Taylor. The 19-year-old world No. 1 is set to face Dirk van Duijvenbode in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay tournament in Blackpool on Sunday evening.

Littler, who is the defending champion, has showcased an exceptional level of play throughout the tournament, maintaining an impressive match average of 111. If he advances to a consecutive final, Littler will make history by becoming the first player in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) history to surpass £3 million in career prize money on the world rankings.

His current tournament average also positions him to break Taylor’s long-standing record for the highest average in the World Matchplay, which stands at 106.31. On his prospects, Littler stated that as long as he continues performing at his current standard, it will require an extraordinary effort from any opponent to overcome him.

Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price secured his place in the semi-finals with a 16-12 victory over Ross Smith. Price overcame a late resurgence from Smith, who narrowed a 12-8 deficit to level the match at 12-all. Reflecting on the tense moment, Price acknowledged the challenge but emphasized his ability to maintain composure under pressure.

In another quarter-final fixture, Gian van Veen emerged with a 16-13 win against James Wade, booking a semi-final meeting with Price. The next stages of the tournament set the stage for a high-stakes contest, as Littler, van Duijvenbode, Price, and van Veen compete for a place in the final.