2026 World Darts Championship semi-final: Live rating and set-by-set updates as Ryan Searle takes the opening set in opposition to Luke Littler

We’ve got our first 180 and it goes to Luke Littler! Then he finishes from 41 and the scores are even.

Littler opens strong with a 139, only for Searle to hit 134.

Then a surprise 58 from Littler, and Searle manages to punish him eventually and finish on a double 20 to break throw.

Some wayward darts here. Littler hits a 42, Searle a 46, and sometimes they’re aiming away from the treble 20 when it looks like there’s space. It’s a slow leg this one.

Littler gets the crowd excited with a 140, but can’t finish his dinner at the end. But he manages to break with a double 10, his old friend.

Searle goes second but hits a 140 to get a leg up on Littler, who then equals things up with a lovely 137.

Littler looks confident, hitting a 139 on his third visit… and then gets booed as he denies us a 167 finish as he’s too sensible to go for the bull! Then he checks out from 20.

Searle has taken the first set, as expected in a way as he had the darts.

He nearly gives us our first 180 – then goes low for the treble 19. In his second visit, he almost does the 180… then hits 20. Teasing us. Chants for Kolo and Yaya Toure ring around.

A terrible visit from the underdog of 25, but Littler puts him under no pressure and Searle checks out from 76.

A huge response from Littler with a 174 to kick off his leg – followed by a 140 and then a 147. A crazy set-up and Searle can’t keep up.

Then a double tops from Littler for a 10-darts leg!

Littler almost breaks Searle with a spectacular 121, but can’t quite check out with a bull, leaving himself 25.

Searle fails to punish him from 78, fails, but Littler spurns his 25 and Searle nails his second chance.

Searle almost gives us our first 180… but has to settle for a 121.

Littler gets huge cheers with a 170 to tee himself up for a 40 finish – and he holds his serve with a first-time double.

Searle throws 57 to start – not the greatest beginning! Littler counters with a 100.

It’s quite a low-scoring run down, even some trebleless visits in there and sub-100s from Littler, but Searle gets down nicely with a 140.

Searle gives himself 56 to finish – and nails it with a double tops!

Heavy, extended boos as Luke Littler is introduced… before his name is even read out!

But as his song, Greenlight by Pitbull, blares out, suddenly everyone is his best friend, singing along and wanting a slice of him!

The duality of a crowd.

Walking on to Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Ryan Searle grins, takes in the high-fives, and hands out the hugs. Soak it all on, chap.

The walk-ons are coming right up!