Luke Littler's World Matchplay title defence continued with a straightforward 16-7 quarter-final win over Josh Rock in Blackpool. Littler will play unseeded Dirk van Duijvenbode of the Netherlands in Saturday's semi-final. Earlier on Thursday evening, tournament outsider Van Duijvenbode survived a late surge by Gary Anderson to reach his first Matchplay semi-final. Anderson, the 2018 World Matchplay champion, threatened to close an eight-leg deficit with a fine late display including a 154 checkout, but Van Duijvenbode held on for a 16-13 win. However, it would be a further nine legs until Van Duijvenbode won the tie as a resurgent Anderson pushed him hard.