Gian van Veen secured a spot in the World Matchplay semi-finals with a hard-fought 16-13 victory over James Wade in Blackpool. The match was a tense affair, with both players struggling for consistency early on. Wade mounted a comeback, winning four consecutive legs to level the score, but Van Veen ultimately prevailed, clinching the final two legs to reach his first semi-final at the event.

Van Veen will face Gerwyn Price in the semi-final. Price advanced after defeating Ross Smith 16-12, posting an impressive average of 102.78 and hitting 10 maximums. Price, a former world number one, recovered from a dropped lead to secure his place in the last four for the first time since 2022.

The other semi-final will see defending champion Luke Littler take on Dirk van Duijvenbode. The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, with the final to follow on Sunday.