World Matchplay Semi-Finals Confirmed After Intense Quarter-Final Showdowns
James Wade adn Jonny clayton have both earned their spots in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, following commanding victories at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Thursday evening.
Clayton and Wade Secure Semi-Final berths with Dominant Displays
Wade demonstrated exceptional determination by winning eight legs consecutively to overcome Gian van Veen 16-13. Meanwhile, Clayton cruised to a convincing 16-7 triumph over Stephen Bunting.
This marks Wade’s tenth semi-final appearance at the World Matchplay and his second in a row during his impressive streak of 20 consecutive tournaments at blackpool. The world No. 5 was halted last year by eventual champion Luke Humphries.
For Clayton, this is only his second time reaching the semi-finals at Winter Gardens; he previously advanced all the way to the final in 2023 before being edged out by Nathan Aspinall.
A Storied Rivalry: Wade vs Clayton set for Another Chapter
The upcoming semi-final will be their 30th meeting with Clayton currently holding a slim lead of 16 wins to Wade’s 13. Their long-standing competitive history adds an intriguing dynamic ahead of their Saturday night showdown.
Semi-Final Lineup Nears Completion
The final two semi-finalists will be decided on Friday evening as Luke Littler faces Andrew Gilding and Gerwyn Price takes on Josh Rock. Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Dramatic Momentum Swings Define Wade vs Van Veen Clash
The match began with Van Veen seizing control as Wade struggled repeatedly with doubles, allowing Van Veen to break twice early for a strong lead of 4-1. However, from the second session onward, momentum shifted dramatically as wade surged through eight straight legs.
Van Veen briefly halted that run by holding throw and closing in to make it 9-5.Later he even broke back for a temporary advantage at 13-11 but missed crucial chances that could have extended his lead further.
Wade capitalized on thes opportunities by securing three more holds before sealing victory with a tense double ten finish under pressure.
“I thought I had thrown it away,” said Wade after the match. “He started off weak but I couldn’t take advantage when it mattered.”
“towards the end he came back strong-it felt like luck rather than skill saved me,” he admitted about those critical moments.
Quarter-Final Results Overview: July Highlights
- Gian van Veen: 13 – James Wade:16
- Stephen Bunting:7 – Jonny Clayton:16
Bunting overwhelmed as Clayton Dominates From Start To Finish
The contest quickly tilted heavily in favor of Jonny Clayton who raced into an early five-leg lead powered by an outstanding average exceeding 110 per visit along with an impressive checkout worth160 points early in play. Two breaks of throw effectively stifled Bunting’s rhythm from the outset.
Bunting managed just one leg during an evenly matched second session where all legs were held according to throwing order-leaving him trailing substantially at halftime (10-5).
‘The Ferret’ maintained firm control throughout subsequent legs until late breaks in legs twenty and twenty-two pushed him ahead decisively at15-7 before sealing victory emphatically with a stunning checkout worth118 points-a highlight finish showcasing precision under pressure.
The Road Ahead: Upcoming Matches & Growing Global Interest In Darts
- The quarter-finals resume Friday evening starting from
- Main event features Luke Littler versus Andrew Gilding;
- Spectators can also witness Gerwyn Price face Josh Rock;
- Tune into Sky Sports+, main Event channels for live coverage;
- This year’s tournament runs through July showcasing some of darts’ brightest talents competing for glory inside Blackpool’s iconic venue;
- Darts viewership has surged globally-with recent figures indicating over three million viewers tuning into key matches worldwide across multiple platforms combined-reflecting its expanding international appeal beyond conventional European markets;
- This growth underscores how events like World Matchplay are becoming major fixtures within global sports calendars alongside established competitions such as premier League Darts or PDC World Championship tournaments;
- Darts continues evolving rapidly both competitively and commercially while maintaining its passionate grassroots fanbase who relish high-stakes drama delivered nightly inside venues like Winter Gardens-renowned for its electric atmosphere unmatched anywhere else within professional darts circuits today!
