2026 World Darts Championship semi-final: RECAP as Luke Littler and Gian van Veen set up thrilling title decider by beating Ryan Searle and Gary Anderson

That's all from us for now. We'll be back tomorrow night for what is sure to be a palpitating, heart-in-mouth decider between two men who could define the next era of darts. Or will it all be a flash in the pan? Either way, tomorrow will be enthralling viewing. And hopefully enthralling reading!

Good night.

Last year, Littler was so exhausted by his efforts that he could do very little but go to bed with his World Championship trophy.

If he wins this year, he'll also be going to bed with a million quid.

Here's Littler and Van Veen back in the final of the World Youth Championship in November 2023, when The Nuke came out on top 6-4. Now look where they are!

You'd surely say Luke Littler will be the crowd's favourite, but you never know. The darts throng is one of the most fickle in sport and they absolutely love an underdog.

Littler has discovered this tournament that being brilliant and young and British isn't necessarily enough to guarantee a place in the crowd's heart. They'll pick up on the tiniest misdemeanour in conduct, one word which they consider out of line.

All the same, Van Veen didn't get much joyful applause beating Gary Anderson, so on balance you can see the fans baying for Littler to win.

Gian van Veen could never plan for a fully professional career in darts. Like lots of youngsters in the Netherlands, he went to university.

The 23-year-old, from a tiny village called Poederoijen, near Gorinchem, in Zaltbomme, none of which I've heard of either, studied aerospace engineering. He then worked in a job concernign cargo planes; it's not exactly clear what. But this was as late as 2023. His rise has been rapid.

Luke Littler and Gian van Veen have played each other six times over the years, first meeting officially in November 2023, and their head-to-head score is 3-3.

The really encouraging thing for Van Veen is that he's won three of his last four matches against Van Veen. All in the last 10 months.

Our conclusion? Van Veen has a serious shot at dethroning Littler tomorrow night. This really could happen.

Luke Littler spent the climactic stages of that match between Van Veen and Anderson posting on Instagram.

He wrote: 'Very special getting to my third world champs final and the support I’ve had so far means a lot. All comes down to tomorrow and the only goal is defending that title.'

A very mixed reception after Van Veen's interview with Sky Sports. Give him some respect! He's just been half of a brilliant contest fr us to enjoy.

He said: 'To win this kind of game Gary threw everything at me, his finishing and scoring was great.

'I felt comofrtable up here. The crowd was a bit against me but fair enough, he's a great human being and player.

'Winning this, 10 years ago, five years ago, three or four years ago I was struggling with dartitis crying at the table.

My parents when I was 12, 13, 14, were driving me to tournaments round the Netherlands. It was all worth it.

'I've struggled with dartitis for many years. But even when I wasn't struggling, I thought it was never going to happen.

'It's not even a dream come true because I wasn't able to dream about it happening. I'm so, so happy.

'As a Dutchman everyone's idol is Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld.

'I'm going to enjoy it. Everyone saw what Luke is capable of. He's played fantastic and so am I. First of all I'm going to enjoy [this moment].

'The crowd got behind Gary, were whistling and booing at me... but I made it 5-3 and I can do it with the crowd against me.'

And Van Veen has done it. He kept his cool in the final leg and landed D16 at the end, on his first attempt, to seal his place.

Anderson needed big scores to break him and they didn't come. An 82, an 83, a 100. Decent, but not enough.

And so Van Veen wins one of the best matches of the tournament. Luke Littler, you have a worthy opponent.

Both open this leg with 140s. Who will falter first? Anderson does - he hits 38. Ouch.

Another 140 for Van Veen. Is Anderson undoing his good work? A 97 is very mediocre. Van Veen comes back with 134.

Van Veen needs 87 to finish but misses the bull. Anderson needs 126 for the set but misses the bull! So, so close.

Van Veen lands his 25 in two darts and breaks back.

Van Veen opens with 180, then it's 140 for Anderson.

Van Veen hits 100. Is that good enough? Not right now - Anderson comes again with another 140.

But then it's a massive 180 for Van Veen The Scot can only hit 180.

Van Veen misses his doubles and Anderson manages a HUGE checkout from 121 to send the crowd wild. Wow, wow, wow. A massive break of throw, potentially.