The biggest tournament in Darts is not far away from finishing as four players remain in the PDC World Championship.
The defending champion and world #1 Luke Littler takes on the #20 seeded Ryan Searle in the first semi-final.
Before Dutch youngster Gian van Veen brings on the challenge against former world champion and 55-year-old Gary Anderson.
The last four contenders are all hoping to make history and potentially become the most-viewed player to watch of 2026.
Searle is currently in the furthest position he has ever been in this competition, previously reaching the fourth round three times.
‘Heavy Metal’ has yet to have won a premier event in the PDC, becoming a runner-up in the Players Championship Finals in 2021 and reaching the quarter-finals in the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix.
The Devon darts player has had nothing but comfortable victories and has only lost two legs in the tournament which both came against Jonny Clayton in a 5-2 win in the quarter-finals.
While he is a heavy underdog in the following matchup, his three-dart averages and checkouts could make it a contesting challenge against the reigning champion.
Littler is aiming for two consecutive World Championship titles after beating Michael van Gerwen last year to make history as the youngest world champion.
‘The Nuke’ was constantly winning competitions in 2025 which included the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals.
In this tournament, the 18-year-old has not had much of a tricky contest, apart from his battle against Rob Cross in round four where he did manage to win 4-2, losing the same amount of total legs as Searle.
Multiple 180s and over a 100 average in a match is regular for Littler as if he can continue to perform the way he has, it’s likely we will see him enter the final and potentially win the lot.
This is the furthest van Veen has made it in the PDC World Championship from his three entries after a dominant 5-1 victory over former world champion and #2 seeded Luke Humphries.
‘The Giant’ had his best year yet in 2025 after beating Humphries 11-10 to win the European Championship, followed by a second consecutive Youth World Championship title, defeating Beau Greaves 6-3.
The Dutchman has only lost one leg in each round of this competition after pulling off impressive performances against Alan Soutar and Charlie Manby.
After his victory in the quarter-final, it seems as if van Veen has the best chance of beating Littler as both men have history, especially in the 2023 Youth World Championship where Poederoijen-born player lost 6-4.
Anderson has made the semi-final for the first time since 2022 as he has had quite the struggle in recent years but aims to make an outstanding comeback
‘The Flying Scotsman’ has become world champion twice in his career, beating Phil Taylor 7-6 in 2015 before earning his second consecutive title with a 7-5 win over Adrian Lewis.
The Musselburgh-born player has not had easy competition in this tournament as the 55-year-old has defeated Connor Scutt, Jermaine Wattimena, MVG, and new fan-favourite Justin Hood.
The averages have been a big part of Anderson’s victories as if he consistently score high in his bout with van Veen, we could be seeing a legend return to a World Championship final.
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