Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Luke Littler of England poses with The Phil Taylor Trophy alongside Garry Plummer, Owner of Target Darts and James Tattersall, Managing Director of Target Darts, after victory in the Final match between James Wade of England and Luke Littler of England on

Littler beats Wade to claim first World Matchplay title

Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle.

Luke Littler of England celebrates after hitting a '9 dart finish' during the Semi-Final match between Luke Littler of England and Josh Rock of Northern Ireland on day eight of the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay at Winter Gardens on July 26, 2025 in Blackpo

Littler hits 9-darter in stunning semi-final comeback

World champion Luke Little survived an early scare to book his first Betfred World Matchplay final after an historic encounter against Josh Rock at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

Darts • 27 Jul

Josh Rock of Northern Ireland celebrates victory in the Quarter-Final match between Josh Rock of Northern Ireland and Gerwyn Price of Wales on day seven of the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay at Winter Gardens on July 25, 2025 in Blackpool, England.

Rock and Littler set up World Matchplay semi showdown

Josh Rock managed a 104.02 average in his 16-11 win over Gerwyn Price to set up a semi-final against world champion Luke Littler at the World Matchplay in Blackpool.

Darts • 25 Jul

Wade sees off Van Veen to secure semi-final berth

James Wade rolled back the years to move within two wins of emulating his 2007 World Matchplay triumph in Blackpool following his victory over Dutchman Gian van Veen.

Darts • 25 Jul

Luke Littler of England celebrates during the Second Round match between Luke Littler of England and Jermaine Wattimena of the Netherlands on day five of the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay at Winter Gardens on July 23, 2025 in Blackpool, England.

Littler digs deep to keep World Matchplay hopes alive

Luke Littler dug himself out of a massive hole to stay alive in the World Matchplay with a tense 13-11 win over Jermaine Wattimena, while Josh Rock beat Michael van Gerwen in a thriller.

Darts • 24 Jul

BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Stephen Bunting of England shakes hands with Gary Anderson of Scotland after the Second Round match between Stephen Bunting of England and Gary Anderson of Scotland on day four of the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay at Winter Ga

Bunting battles past Anderson in Matchplay thriller

Stephen Bunting saw off a Gary Anderson fightback and battled his way to a 12-10 last-16 victory in a scrappy encounter at the World Matchplay in Blackpool.

Darts • 23 Jul

Gurney involved in heated exchange with Price

Gerwyn Price was involved in a heated exchange with opponent Daryl Gurney after the Welshman sealed a 10-7 win in their World Matchplay first round clash in Blackpool.

Darts • 21 Jul

Luke Humphries enjoys the moment on the Blackpool stage

Humphries wins Matchplay to complete prestigious double

Luke Humphries became just the fourth man to win the World Championship and World Matchplay in the same year after a dramatic triumph in Blackpool.

Darts • 22 Jul 24

'It was a really tough game, everyone knows to play him is tough'

Van Gerwen shakes off boredom to book semi-final place

Michael van Gerwen was forced to overcome boredom as he produced a blistering eight-leg winning streak to book his spot in the semi-final of the World Matchplay.

Darts • 20 Jul 24

Luke Humphries celebrates his victory over Dimitri Van den Bergh

Humphries battles past Van den Bergh to reach semis

Top seed Luke Humphries battled past Dimitri Van den Bergh to book his place in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Darts • 19 Jul 24

James Wade (r) knocked out defending champion Nathan Aspinall

Former champ Wade ends Aspinall defence at Matchplay

Defending champion Nathan Aspinall was dumped out of the World Darts Matchplay after losing 11-8 to James Wade, while Luke Humphries, Ross Smith and Dimitri van den Bergh also progressed.

Darts • 17 Jul 24

Michael van Gerwen defeated the PDC World finalist 10-6

Van Gerwen accounts for Littler at the World Matchplay

Michael van Gerwen won the first-round battle of the heavyweights at the World Matchplay as he sent rival Luke Littler packing.

Darts • 15 Jul 24

Clayton and Humphries to clash in Matchplay semi-finals

Jonny Clayton and Luke Humphries will meet in the Betfred World Matchplay semi-finals after both came through close contests on Friday.

Darts • 21 Jul 23

Ryan Searle had never progressed beyond the first round in two previous appearances at the World Matchplay

Searle eliminates Wright at World Matchplay

Ryan Searle was left looking for a new hotel after dumping Peter Wright out of the Betfred World Matchplay.

Darts • 19 Jul 23

Price and Smith both crash out of World Matchplay

Tournament favourite Gerwyn Price and world number one Michael Smith both crashed out the Betfred World Matchplay on a dramatic evening in Blackpool.

Darts • 18 Jul 23

Van Gerwen wins epic against Price in World Matchplay

Michael van Gerwen claimed his biggest title in over three years after he won the World Matchplay after an epic battle with Gerwyn Price at the Winter Gardens.

Darts • 24 Jul 22

Price back on top of world after knocking De Sousa out

Gerwyn Price regained darts' number one spot by reaching the semi-finals of the World Matchplay in Blackpool for the first time.

Darts • 23 Jul 22

Dimitri Van den Bergh staged a fight-back

Van den Bergh stuns close pal Wright at World Matchplay

Dimitri Van Den Bergh shocked former housemate Peter Wright to avenge his defeat in last year's World Matchplay final as he reached the last-four.

Darts • 21 Jul 22

Dirk van Duijvenbode is into the semi-finals for the first time

Van Duijvenbode knocks Smith out of World Matchplay

Michael Smith exited the World Matchplay as Dirk van Duijvenbode moved into the quarter-finals for the first time with an 11-7 victory.

Darts • 20 Jul 22

Gerwyn Price has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at the World Matchplay

Price battles back to progress in Blackpool

Gerwyn Price bounced back from an early deficit to punch his way into round two of the World Matchplay with a 10-8 victory over Martin Schindler in Blackpool.

Darts • 19 Jul 22

Peter Wright celebrates victory. Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDC

Wright eases through while Clayton suffers shock defeat

Peter Wright began the defence of his Betfred World Matchplay title with victory over Madars Razma as debutant Rowby-John Rodriguez dumped out eighth seed Jonny Clayton on a thrilling opening night at the Winter Gardens.

Darts • 16 Jul 22

Peter Wright - haunted by his gallstones

'Nothing can stop me, except maybe gallstones' - Wright

World number one Peter Wright believes only a flare up of his gallstones will stop him from retaining the World Matchplay title in Blackpool.

Darts • 13 Jul 22

Peter Wright turned on the style in Blackpool

Wright outclasses Van den Bergh to win World Matchplay

Peter Wright claimed his first World Matchplay title by thrashing defending champion Dimitri Van Den Bergh 18-9.

Darts • 25 Jul 21

Dimitri Van den Bergh will defend his title

Van Den Bergh & Wright set up World Matchplay showdown

Reigning champion Dimitri Van Den Bergh and Peter Wright will meet in Sunday's World Matchplay final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Darts • 24 Jul 21

Van Gerwen will meet Peter Wright in the last-four

Van Gerwen beats Aspinall to make World Matchplay semis

Michael Van Gerwen beat Nathan Aspinall 16-9 to reach the semi-finals of the World Matchplay at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

Darts • 23 Jul 21