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Littler wins the fourth set, leads 3-1
Littler can’t take out his favoured 170 but he has time with Searle adrift – and tops seals a very quick fourth set.
Fourth set: *Littler (2) 2-0 (1) Searle Ryan Searle needs to stop Littler from getting on a streak here – but the champion is down to 96 – and closes it out on double nine! He’s one hold from a two-set lead …
Fourth set: Littler (2) 1-0 (1) Searle* Both players start the leg with 180s but can’t get any closer to a nine-darter, and Searle’s erratic scoring makes it all too easy for Littler.
Littler wins set three! Littler 2-1 Searle
Searle stumbles with his first three darts and quickly falls 100 points behind. Littler can’t race away with it, setting up 113 and missing tops. Searle can’t finish from 69, making a costly error – and Littler punishes him this time.
Third set: Littler (1) 2-2 (1) Searle* Littler has six darts from 121, and again turns down a shot at the bull before nailing tops. A huge leg coming up …
Third set: *Littler (1) 1-2 (1) Searle A first max for Searle, and it’s well timed after a slow start to the leg. A 140 follows, and while Littler applies pressure, he checks out on double 10.
Third set: Littler (1) 1-1 (1) Searle* More crowd chants for Searle, which stirs Littler into slamming in another 180 on his way to a quickfire hold.
Third set: *Littler (1) 0-1 (1) Searle A big set for Searle here – and he starts well on throw, taking out 76 in two darts.
Luke Littler wins set two! Littler 1-1 Searle
Littler takes out the first maximum of the match to take charge on Searle’s throw, and lands double 20 for an 11-dart leg. We’re all square.
Second set: Littler (0) 2-1 (1) Searle* Littler still not really close to top gear, and Searle breaks back after the champion fails to take out 170.
Second set: *Littler (0) 2-0 (1) Searle Littler gets the edge in a scrappy match, leaving Searle chasing 147 to hold throw. He can’t do it, and Littler pops the trusty double 10 to break!
Second set: Littler (0) 1-0 (1) Searle* A great start for Searle – taking the set on throw, but looking very composed. Littler starts off this set, and has a shot at the bull from 167 – but opts to set up double eight. Cue a few pantomime boos.
Ryan Searle wins the first set
Searle rattles in four treble-20s in six darts – no signs of nerves here – and he’s down to 101 with Littler distant. Despite stumbling, he has time to pin double eight for the set!
First set: Littler (0) 2-2 Searle* (0) Five perfect darts out of six for Littler, then a 147 set-up. Searle is miles back, but it’s all about holding throw next time …
First set: *Littler (0) 1-2 Searle (0) Searle on 136, which he can only trim to 78. He misses double top, but gets an early let-off as Littler misses three darts to break, allowing him to return and tidy up.
First set: Littler (0) 1-1 Searle (0)* Littler hits straight back, taking out double top to hold despite decent scoring pressure from Searle.
First set: *Littler (0) 0-1 Searle (0) *denotes next to throw first Searle gets down to 56 and takes it out with Littler waiting on double top. “Ryan, Ryan, Searle” chant the crowd, to the perhaps overused tune of KC & the Sunshine Band’s “Give it Up.”
Game on!
Ryan Searle to throw first, as the crowd remind the rest of us that “there’s only one Luke Littler …”
Walk-on time! Searle is out first as the lower-ranked player, and receives big cheers from the Ally Pally faithful. The reaction to Littler is more mixed – a few boos before Pitbull kicks in, unless some fans were shouting “Luuuuuuuuke”.
Pre-game chat from Luke Littler: “People can say it’s mine to lose, but it’s a game of darts at the end of the day … I want to get to the final again, and stay No 1. I expect Ryan to give me a good game.”
And Ryan Searle: “I’ve lost some really close games here before, it’s incredible to be in the semi-finals. I know I’m the underdog but I’ll give it my best shot.” Searle has a condition that affects his vision – to the extent that he sometimes can’t see where his darts have landed. “I hope I can inspire other people, and show what’s possible.”
Luke Littler is the only top-eight seed to make it to the final four – but performances here will see the other three semi-finalists climb the rankings. Van Veen will climb to at least No 3 in the world, with Anderson back up to sixth and Searle eighth as it stands.
Fans are taking their seats, pitchers in hand, in the West Hall. From next year, the tournament will move to the larger Great Hall at Alexandra Palace.
We’re about half an hour away from the opener – and your predictions are welcome. I think if Ryan Searle can settle, he can push Littler early on, but the world No 1’s relentless scoring power may prove too much. Prediction: Littler 6-3 Searle.
Littler v Searle: tale of the tape
Luke Littler
Age: 18. From: Warrington. Seeded: No 1.
Nickname: The Nuke. Title odds: 1-2.
Path to the final: R1 bt Labanauskas 3-0, R2 bt Davies 3-0;
R3 bt Sulovic 4-0; R4 bt Cross 4-2; QF bt Ratajski 5-0.
Best worlds performance: Champion (2025).
Walk-on music: “Greenlight” by Pitbull.
Ryan Searle
Age: 38. From: Devon. Seeded: No 20.
Nickname: Heavy Metal. Title odds: 22-1.
Path to the final: R1 bt Landman 3-0, R2 bt Dolan 3-0;
R3 by Schindler 4-0; R4 bt Hurrell 4-0; QF bt Clayton 5-2.
Best worlds performance: Semi-finalist (2026).
Walk-on music: “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath.
Head to head record: Littler 5-0 Searle.
Here’s how eight contenders became four in Thursday’s quarter-finals, as we said goodbye to Krzysztof Ratajski, Jonny Clayton, Justin Hood … and Luke Humphries.
Preamble
The Nuke. Heavy Metal. The Giant. The Flying Scotsman. What kind of steampunk terrordome are we walking into tonight? It’s the Alexandra Palace, London and these are the four gladiators still standing after an absolutely vintage world darts championship.
First up, the champion. Luke Littler has been more rattled by the crowd than his opponents on a run to his third semi-final in three appearances. On paper, Ryan Searle looks outmatched – but the Devon dartist has played like a potential winner, dropping just two sets on his way here. If he can start well and get the fans on side, things could get very interesting.
The second match also features a former champion against a form horse, but the roles are reversed for Gian van Veen and Gary Anderson. Van Veen has been the tournament’s standout player and anointed as the most likely to stop Littler. That said, two-time world champ Anderson is a master of this stage with vast experience – and looks close to his clinical best.
In short, it’s a big night – so grab what’s left of your festive snacks and settle in for some of the finest sporting drama you’ll see anywhere in 2026. Game on!
