Littler breakspublished at 21:46 BST 25 July
Littler 6-1 Van Duijvenbode
180 number four for Littler, who then gets down to 41 with 180 number five.
Littler hits tops to move out of sight.
Van Duijvenbode puffs out his cheeks.
Summary
Follow live text updates from World Matchplay semi-finals in Blackpool
Result: Defendin champion Luke Littler beats Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5
Result: Gerwyn Price beats Gian van Veen 17-10 to reach final
Final takes place from 20:05 on Sunday
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Littler breakspublished at 21:46 BST 25 July
Littler holdspublished at 21:44 BST 25 July
Littler 5-1 Van Duijvenbode
Van Duijvenbode opens with 174, but can't set up a nine-darter.
Littler takes control and gets down to 138, but he narrowly misses D15 and leaves 15 on the board.
He returns and eventually hits D3 to hold.
The stats so farpublished at 21:41 BST 25 July
Littler 4-1 Van Duijvenbode
Just the 116 average for Luke Littler in the opening five legs...
Postpublished at 21:40 BST 25 July
Littler 4-1 Van Duijvenbode
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky SportsVan Duijvenbode is not playing badly, but you can see by the look on his face - he is up against a force of nature tonight.
Van Duijvenbode holdspublished at 21:38 BST 25 July
Littler 4-1 Van Duijvenbode
Van Duijvenbode gets his second maximum of the night and leaves a 101 finish, but he misses at tops to leave 40.
Not even Littler can do the impossible and take out 207, so Van Duijvenbode returns and hits D10 to claim his first leg.
Postpublished at 21:37 BST 25 July
Littler 4-0 Van Duijvenbode
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky SportsThe best players in the world just make other players think.
Littler holdspublished at 21:36 BST 25 July
Littler 4-0 Van Duijvenbode
Littler drops his level in the fourth leg but it matters not - he leaves 40 and takes it out with 20 and D10.
Van Duijvenbode is in trouble.
'We are seeing something the eye has never seen before'published at 21:35 BST 25 July
Littler 3-0 Van Duijvenbode
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky SportsNo player has ever played to this level for an entire tournament.
Ever so often we see something that the eye has never seen before and we are witnessing it. We are lucky.
Littler breakspublished at 21:35 BST 25 July
Littler 3-0 Van Duijvenbode
Littler is purring already - he's averaging 118.
The defending champion hits another 180 to set up a 84 check out.
Van Duijvenbode hits his own 180, before Littler leaves 15 on the board.
Van Duijvenbode needs 120 but can't take it, allowing Littler to check out. 3-0
Postpublished at 21:33 BST 25 July
Littler 2-0 Van Duijvenbode
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky SportsThis is not the Luke Littler from last year's tournament that gave his opponents a head start.
He's been coming out all guns blazing and tears off into the distance.
Littler holdspublished at 21:32 BST 25 July
Littler 2-0 Van Duijvenbode
Littler hits his first 180 of the night, his 39th of the tournament.
He's left with 87, and he hits D15 to take a two-leg lead.
Postpublished at 21:31 BST 25 July
Littler 1-0 Van Duijvenbode
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky SportsDirk van Duijvenbode has held it together well in this tournament so far and he's going to have to do the same tonight.
Littler breakspublished at 21:31 BST 25 July
Littler 1-0 Van Duijvenbode
Little gets down to 47, and after missing tops nails D10 to break.
Postpublished at 21:29 BST 25 July
Littler 0-0 Van Duijvenbode
Van Duijvenbode throws first.
More nine-darter magic from Littler?published at 21:29 BST 25 July
Littler v Van Duijvenbode
Image source, Getty ImagesOne of the moments of this year's World Matchplay was Luke Littler's nine-darter during his round two win over Nathan Aspinall on Tuesday.
Littler opened the match with a perfect leg to send the crowd at the Winter Gardens wild, and almost claimed a second nine-darter of the night in the fourth leg.
The world number one had double 15 remaining for a second nine-darter, only for his arrow to land just the wrong side of the wire.
Littler has already produced six nine-darters during televised matches during his career, ranking him fourth in the all-time list behind Gerwyn Price (seven), Michael van Gerwen (10) and Phil Taylor (11).
'Break the game into chunks'published at 21:28 BST 25 July
Littler v Van Duijvenbode
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky SportsI remember 25 years ago that we thought we couldn't beat Phil Taylor over a best of five legs game, so how were we meant to do it over this longer format.
It is the same against Luke Littler but the opponent just needs to break the game down into chunks and think about it like that.
Postpublished at 21:27 BST 25 July
Littler v Van Duijvenbode
It's time for the walk outs.
After Dirk van Duijvenbode's, err, interesting choice of song, it's time for Luke Littler.
As has become the norm, there are plenty of whistles and jeers for the world champion.
Stat attackpublished at 21:25 BST 25 July
Littler v Van Duijvenbode
Luke Littler's average have been simply incredible so far with his 113.68 in the second round against Nathan Aspinall the second-highest in Matchplay history.
He could break Phil Taylor's tournament average too - he's currently a few points ahead of that.
It's not a huge surprise to see him outscoring and finishing the unseeded Dirk van Duijvenbode in all three rounds.
Van Duijvenbode's route to the last fourpublished at 21:24 BST 25 July
Littler v Van Duijvenbode
Dirk van Duijvenbode has had to work hard to reach the semi-finals.
The Dutchman needed extra legs in both his round one victory against Chris Dobey and his round two defeat of Michael van Gerwen.
Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images'Littler is in a great space'published at 21:23 BST 25 July
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky SportsOne semi-final is more clean-cut than the other.
I would expect Luke Littler to maintain his standard and even if there is a little drop off, it won't be much.
He is a great space. He looks so relaxed and focused. It is like he's taking his practice game up there but it is hitting ridiculous averages.
The format favours him as well. I just can't see anyone stopping him.