Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Column CM149
World Matchplay 2025 – Quarters, Semis, Final
From the quarterfinals on I was in Blackpool…
Quarterfinals
Until arriving in Blackpool, I followed the tournament on TV. James Wade had looked really strong – but during the walk-on for the quarterfinals it seemed he was uncomfortable…
Gian van Veen won the first three legs of the match. Wade found an answer, throwing a 180, but somehow his accuracy on the doubles was not there – and the Dutchman had a 4-1 lead going into the first break.
Wade looked more settled after the break and he managed to draw even and finally take the lead – but nothing looked as easy and as natural as in his first two matches. Twice he had the chance to throw a perfect leg in the match but both times he failed.
Wade stayed in front for the rest of the match, sometimes took a little “break” in the legs when he didn’t have the throw but played stronger when he had the start – and kept van Veen at distance. When Wade was ahead 15-13 one could sense that he definitely didn’t want overtime – and he gave it his all to get over the finish line 16-13. This was a good match from both players but probably Wade’s weakest in the tournament.
Jonny Clayton looked totally different in the following quarter-final – he appeared very determined from the start. It looked like he was following a plan.
Clayton raced into a 5-0 lead, averaging 110.51. That plan seemed to work – his opponent, Stephen Bunting, improved but never really recovered. Bunting chased Clayton but never could catch him – and he had double trouble. Near the end both players looked tired. Clayton won 16-7.
Then the tournament favorite, Luke Littler, came on stage to play against Andrew Gilding. Gilding kept up well and Littler didn’t really look happy – he could maintain just a one-leg advantage until he finally found another gear – at the second break Littler was leading 6-4 and had missed a nine-darter.
The match went back and forth for a while. In the 18th leg both players seemed unable to find the double. Gilding came closer.
Littler looked a little bit worked up while Gilding couldn’t help but smile each time he won a leg. Littler would draw away but then Gilding would produce a strong phase and hit some high finishes – and suddenly it was only 14-15. Littler just managed to get over the finish line in the next leg.
The last quarterfinal should have been another close match but from the start Gerwyn Price never looked comfortable while Josh Rock seemed relaxed…
Rock moved to a 6-4 lead at the second break and I (probably it was not only me) started to wonder whether the Gerwyn Price from the first two matches would ever turn up…
He didn’t manage to – though at first he had the higher average and better hitting rate on his doubles. In the 11th leg, Price threw a 170-finish and managed to draw – but by the next break Rock was in the lead again and he stayed there for the rest of the match. A no doubt very disappointed Price lost 11-16.
So, now all the semi-finalists were known (the players were the same as in the UK Open earlier this year – James Wade, Jonny Clayton, Luke Littler and Josh Rock). But this time James Wade would face Jonny Clayton and Luke Littler would play his friend Josh Rock.
Semi-finals
The semi-finals were both great matches – and hard fought.
In the second match, both Luke Littler and Josh Rock had a look at a perfect leg – in the same leg. But Littler had the throw – hit the nine-darter and World Matchplay history was written. In the first semi-final Jonny Clayton’s unbelievable comeback and the thrilling overtime will stick in one’s memory (well, probably also the image of James Wade kneeling before him – never before had I witnessed anything similar on stage).
In the first semi-final, James Wade and Jonny Clayton met. Wade looked much better than in the quarterfinals and I couldn’t help feeling Clayton didn’t really believe in himself…
Wade stormed through the first few legs and seemed to throw 180s for fun. Clayton didn’t play bad either, but Wade just was too much for him at that point. Wade threw a 161-finish and missed a 170.
At the first break Wade was 3-2 in the lead and he was 7-3 ahead at the second break – Clayton just didn’t get chances as Wade consistently threw high scores. In the 12th leg, Clayton threw a 161 finish of his own. Wade finally weakened a little bit, and Clayton started to fight and battle and somehow managed to draw 16-16.
Then it was 17-17, then 18-18 and both players looked tired. They were no longer as clinical on their doubles. Wade somehow managed to scrape together two legs in a row and won 20-18.
In the second semi-final, Luke Littler met Josh Rock – Littler had a really poor start while Rock looked relaxed and full of energy. Rock stormed into a 5-0 lead before the first break – though in the fifth leg he wobbled a bit on his doubles for the first time.
After the break, Littler finally managed to win his first leg and after that a history making second leg…
Littler had the throw and threw a 180. Rock answered with a 180 of his own. Littler threw his second 180 and again Rock answered with one of his own. It was not the first time in the tournament that Littler had the chance to throw a nine-darter but that both players had the chance in the same leg was exceptional. Littler had the throw and used the chance this time. No one of course can answer the question whether Rock would have used it as well…
Nevertheless, Rock went into the second break with a 7-3 lead – aided by Littler’s continued double trouble.
Rock was still in front at the third break but Littler started to hit his doubles better. It was Rock who now weakened a little – and Littler managed to draw 9-9 and then for the first time pulled ahead.
Littler finally had the momentum and could not be stopped. Rock managed to fight back to 14-16 but in the next leg Littler won the match.
The Final
So, as in the final of the UK Open, James Wade and Luke Littler would clash. Though it definitely looked Wade was in better form, Littler of course went into the match as the favorite.
Similar to the semi-final, Littler started rather slow and again had some double trouble as well. Wade enjoyed a 5-0 lead at the first break.
After that, a completely different Littler turned up and won the second session 5-0.
Wade didn’t give in – seemingly unimpressed, he battled on and got the lead back at 11-9.
Littler once again found another gear, though ag this point neither player was as clinical on their doubles – and Wade missed his chance to draw 12-12. This was probably crucial as Wade then managed to win only two more legs while Littler threw a host of 180s and won the in the end a little bit of a one-sided final 18-13.
Bottom Line
The tournament was won by the favorite and deservedly so – and he wasn’t seriously threatened. Only against Jermaine Wattimena and Andrew Gilding did Littler work up a bit of a sweat. It showed as well that Littler probably can only be cracked over his problems with doubles when he is in this form. At the moment only a very few players can keep up to his scoring and hitting of 180s.
Despite Littler’s dominance it was not a boring tournament – besides Littler, other players showed outstanding performances as well – especially the other quarterfinalists: Rock, Clayton and Wade. But Gilding and Price impressed as well.
We did see some bitter first round exits – especially Humphries and Aspinall. We’ll see how they will fare in the next few months.
The German players still don’t seem to have a grip on the World Matchplay. Of course, it is good that two managed to qualify, as has been the case now every year since 2022. But so far only Max Hopp (2019) and Gabriel Clemens (2020) have managed to win a match in the Winter Gardens.
As always,, love the column my friend