Iceman’s Resurgence: Gerwyn Price Dominates Path to World Matchplay Final
Gerwyn Price, known as “The Iceman,” has emphatically secured his place as the first finalist in the 2026 World Matchplay! He delivered a commanding 17-10 victory over Gian van Veen, a win that was truly deserved. Van Veen struggled to find his rhythm, mirroring his performance from the previous evening. Despite a brief rally from the Dutchman that narrowed the gap to 11-9, Price ultimately pulled away decisively. This marks Price’s second appearance in the prestigious Blackpool final, following his first in 2022, and also sees him reclaim the title of Welsh Number 1 from Jonny Clayton.
Price Powers Through to the Final
The semi-final clash saw Gerwyn Price demonstrate why he’s a top contender. Right from the start, Price seized control with a 13-dart break, immediately putting pressure on van Veen. Although Price had a moment of luck at 2-1, failing to capitalize on a 60-point finish, van Veen couldn’t punish the error. Instead, Price extended his lead to 4-1 with a crucial 125 checkout.
After the first break, van Veen’s struggles with his ‘doubles’ – the crucial outer ring segments needed to win a leg – became more pronounced. Price capitalized, pushing his lead to 6-1 with a 96 checkout. The Dutchman, nicknamed “The Giant,” finally found some form, winning legs in 14 and 15 darts to bring the score to 4-6, despite ongoing issues with the double 1. He even closed the gap further after the next interval, but Price responded with two 15-dart legs and a strong 108 finish to move ahead 8-5. Even with occasional errors, Price quickly corrected them, such as with a break to make it 9-6.
Van Veen’s Fightback Falls Short
The pattern continued after the third break. Price missed four darts, allowing van Veen to grab a leg and make it 9-7. However, van Veen couldn’t consolidate, failing to finish on his own throw in 15 darts. Price then delivered an 84 checkout, restoring a four-leg advantage and beginning his final push. Despite missing a double 13 for an 12-8 lead, which van Veen then capitalized on with an 84 finish on double 11 to narrow the score to a tense 11-9, the momentum was still with the Welshman.
Ultimately, van Veen’s performance mirrored his previous match against James Wade: he managed to win legs without truly shining, but his finishing on the doubles wasn’t sharp enough. This time, he simply couldn’t match Price’s final surge. Price accelerated, winning legs in 14, 16, 12, and 13 darts to build a commanding 15-9 lead, barely giving van Veen a chance at a double. A 110 checkout from van Veen was quickly answered by a stunning 10-darter from Price, leaving him just one leg away from victory. Van Veen then helped seal his own fate with another missed opportunity, resulting in a clear 17-10 triumph for Price.
What’s Next at the World Matchplay 2026?
The other highly anticipated semi-final will feature young sensation Luke Littler against Dirk van Duijvenbode. Darts fans can look forward to another thrilling contest to determine who will face Gerwyn Price in the grand finale.
The World Matchplay 2026 Final is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 9:00 PM CEST. The winner will be crowned after a best of 35 legs match, with the added rule that a player must win by a two-leg difference. Since 2014, games tied at the end can be extended by a maximum of five legs until a winner is decided.
Tournament Structure and Prize Money
The World Matchplay is renowned for its intense format and significant prize fund, making it the second-highest prize money ranking tournament in darts after the PDC World Championship.
- First Round: Best of 19 Legs
- Second Round (Last 16): Best of 21 Legs
- Quarter-Finals: Best of 31 Legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of 33 Legs
- Final: Best of 35 Legs
The prize money breakdown highlights the prestige of the event:
- Winner: £225,000
- Runner-Up: £125,000
- Semi-Finalists: £65,000
- Quarter-Finalists: £35,000
- Last 16: £22,500
- First Round: £12,500
- Total Prize Fund: £1,000,000
Before the men’s final, the afternoon will also host the Women’s World Matchplay, promising another exciting day of darts action.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
