Littler 'finds Rhythm' To Set Up Rock Semi-final At Matchplay

World champion Luke Littler survived a fightback from Andrew Gilding to group up a World Matchplay semi-final against Josh Rock.

Littler was connected people for a regularisation triumph aft opening up a sizeable lead successful nan quarter-final astatine Blackpool's Winter Gardens, first astatine 12-8 and again astatine 14-9.

But Gilding responded by winning 3 consecutive legs and pegged him backmost to 15-14, but nan 18-year-old held his nervus for a 16-14 success.

He will look Rock for a spot successful nan last aft nan Northern Irishman hit 2023 runner-up Gerwyn Price 16-11.

Littler averaged 103.91 to Gilding's 98.45 and threw 18 maximums en way to his first semi-final astatine nan triple crown event.

"[The crowd] sewage their money's worth. I deliberation they wanted 15-all but that past leg, I conscionable had to enactment focused," he told Sky Sports.

"I didn't really panic. Leg by leg, Andrew started to triumph a fewer connected nan trot, but connected nan past leg, against nan darts, I conscionable had to get complete nan line.

"He played his part, it's very tough. Andrew ne'er goes retired of rhythm, he's nan aforesaid propulsion by throw. I conscionable had to find a hit to lucifer him."

Littler teased location would beryllium "fireworks" successful nan 4th quarter-final and Rock delivered.

Both nan 24-year-old (104.02) and Price (100.21) averaged supra 100, but it was Rock who seized nan moment, winning 3 consecutive legs to unfastened up an 11-8 lead and past extending his advantage to 13-9.

Price rallied to make it 13-11, but Rock - who hit three-time champion Michael van Gerwen successful information 2 - closed retired nan lucifer successful style, winning nan past 3 legs and producing a checkout of 164 successful nan last one.

"I'm connected unreality 9 astatine nan minute. What a game," Rock told connected Sky Sports.

"I was conscionable like, 'Josh, you're doing thing wrong, you're playing your ain game, happy days'. The shape Gerwyn's in, you cognize what to expect.

"Littler's 1 of my closest friends down nan scenes. I dream we some move up. Hopefully it will beryllium a cracking game."

The semi-finals will return spot connected Saturday evening pinch England's James Wade facing Jonny Clayton of Wales, earlier Littler's gathering pinch Rock.