Can “The Titan” give the defending champion a run for his money?
Luke Littler didn’t put a foot wrong in the quarterfinals either, sweeping past Josh Rock 16–7 with another impressive average of 109.57. Consequently, the pick for the semifinal between Luke Littler and Dirk van Duijvenbode is a win for the defending champion, who has won the last seven PDC major tournaments in a row and is looking to add an eighth title in Blackpool.
However, the Dutchman—whom hardly anyone had on their radar heading into the tournament—has improved with each round and has already knocked two former world champions, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, out of the competition.
Admittedly, it would be a major upset if “The Titan” were now able to prevent the currently seemingly untouchable two-time world champion from defending his title. But it’s clear that the Dutchman can give “The Nuke” a run for his money if he puts in a performance as dominant as the one in his 16-13 victory over Gary Anderson. The player, often referred to as “Aubergenius,” threw 13 180s, recorded four high finishes, and posted an average of 101.49. Accordingly, the prediction for Luke Littler’s match against Dirk van Duijvenbode is that he’ll also hit at least ten 180s against the English superstar.
For those who find the bet that van Duijvenbode will once again hit double-digit maximums too risky, an alternative is to bet on the total number of 180s in the match, which will certainly be led by the dazzlingly in-form Littler, who has even already conjured up a 9-darter on the oche at the Winter Gardens during the tournament.
Luke Littler – Dirk van Duijvenbode Head-to-Head Record
Head-to-Head: 1:4
The two players have faced each other five times so far, and it has been a very one-sided series, with Luke Littler winning four of those five matches. Dirk van Duijvenbode’s only victory over the dominant Englishman came at the 2024 Flanders Darts Trophy. Meanwhile, 2026 marks the first time these two players have faced off.
Luke Littler – Dirk van Duijvenbode Prediction
Luke Littler is once again playing darts out of this world in Blackpool. He posted an average of 109.57 in his most recent match against Josh Rock.
Prior to that, in his 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall—which included a 9-darter and an average of 113.68—he even drew incredulous laughter and bewildered head-shaking from his opponent, who, despite having an absolutely stellar day, had to admit that no one can currently match the 19-year-old two-time world champion.
Against this backdrop, there’s likely little in it for Dirk van Duijvenbode either, even though the Dutchman is playing the tournament of his life and, after eliminating Michael van Gerwen, even managed to knock out Gary Anderson—a feat that certainly marks him as a “giant killer.”
It’s clear that, given the low odds, there’s no value to be found in betting on the defending champion to win. We’re therefore taking a different approach. The Titan already managed an impressive 13 180s against Anderson. Regardless of the outcome of that match, we’re betting that the Dutchman will throw at least ten 180s in this semifinal as well—a match that’s likely to be somewhat longer.
