-
Ryan Searle the outsider to lift the trophy at 14/115.00
-
Littler to maintain astonishing Ally Pally record
-
Heavy scoring forecast between Ando and GVV
A total 128 players arrived in London hoping to add their name to an illustrious list to have picked up the World Championship trophy, now just four remain as the reigning champion continues his charge towards defending the title. Luke Littler is now 1/21.50 to go all the way, with first time semi-finalist Ryan Searle available at 14/115.00.
Littler to make it a hat-trick of finals
Ryan Searle spoke following his quarter-final win over Jonny Clayton about how he hopes to inspire other visually impaired people who have aspirations of playing darts. His story is a remarkable one and it is incredible to see him breaking new grounds and advance to the final four for the first time in his career.
In addition, Heavy Metal is provisionally up to seventh in the world rankings and until his slightly patchy performance against The Ferret, had been performing at a consistently high level throughout this tournament, his finishing particularly impressive.
He has dropped just a single set here at Ally Pally but undoubtedly faces his biggest test next. Five times he has gone up against Luke Littler and on five occasions he has been defeated, with their one other big meeting in a major coming at the Matchplay earlier this year where The Nuke blew his opponent away with a 109 average.
Whilst I think this time it will be a bit more competitive, I am expecting the 18-year-old to make it through to a third consecutive final, which would be a ludicrous achievement in itself.
Littler has a tournament average a shade under 103 and if he can continue to score in the same vein as he has so far, will carve out a lot more chances at the back end of legs than Heavy Metal.
Despite Searle's spellbinding stuff at times in London, he's not been piling in the maximums at the rate of others left in the event and I'm actually backing unders on the 180 market in this one. Ryan Searle to hit under +8.5 180s at 11/102.11.
Back Ryan Searle to hit under +8.5 180s
Anderson and Van Veen to contest a classic
Gary Anderson is through to an eighth World Championship semi-final and has put in some breathtaking displays en route to this stage of the tournament.
Whilst he has delivered away from the big majors in 2025, this is, without question, the best he's looked on TV for quite some time and if he can maintain this level, there's a chance he could leave London as a three-time winner, 10 years after picking up his last title.
The biggest issue that he's likely to face is stamina. He's said himself that over the longer formats it's getting harder to stick with the younger players coming through and even though that's not been a factor up to this point, it may well have some bearing against the formidable talent that is Gian van Veen.
The reigning European Champion is a huge admirer of Gary Anderson and the feeling is most certainly mutual and if this is anything like their meeting at the Grand Slam in 2024, it is set to be one heck of a showdown.
The Scot came out on top on that occasion as he has done in four of their five matches and even though Van Veen looked imperious for much of his game against Luke Humphries, Anderson's timing has been exceptional and at 6/42.50 I think there's value in backing him to reach another final.
Back Gary Anderson to win