Overview
- Defending champion Luke Littler whitewashed Krzysztof Ratajski 5-0, hitting a 170 checkout, averaging about 100 and restoring rapport with the Ally Pally crowd after recent boos.
- Gian van Veen defeated Luke Humphries 5-1 with a 105.41 average, 11 180s and a 170 checkout, extending his dominance in their head-to-head and rising to provisional world No. 3 and Dutch No. 1.
- Ryan Searle beat Jonny Clayton 5-2 and Gary Anderson overcame Justin Hood 5-2 in the afternoon session to complete the semi-final lineup.
- The semi-finals are Luke Littler vs Ryan Searle and Gian van Veen vs Gary Anderson, with both matches scheduled for Friday evening on Sky Sports.
- This year’s event features an expanded 128-player field and a record £5m prize fund, including £1m to the winner, amplifying the stakes of the closing rounds.