Who is commentating Gerwyn Price v Gian van Veen on Sky Sports Action? World Matchplay semi-final TV and team guide

Match date:

Gerwyn Price v Gian van Veen is set to be shown live on Sky Sports Action in the UK, with coverage also available on Sky Sports Main Event later in the evening as part of the World Matchplay semi-final session from Blackpool. Sky Sports’ live coverage is scheduled to begin at 7pm, with play due to get under way at around 7:05pm BST, making this one of the headline matches of the tournament weekend.

The broadcast team for the match brings together some of the most recognisable voices in darts television. Emma Paton presents the coverage, continuing her prominent role in Sky Sports’ darts output after becoming one of the channel’s key live event anchors. Rod Studd is on main commentary, a familiar voice across major PDC events for many years and one of Sky’s most experienced darts commentators. He is joined by Glen Durrant, the three-time BDO world champion who has built a respected second career in broadcasting and analysis since stepping away from full-time playing.

The pundit line-up also features two heavyweight names in darts history. Mark Webster, the 2008 BDO world champion, has become a regular Sky Sports analyst and offers sharp technical insight from his years competing at the top level. John Part, a three-time world champion and one of the sport’s most accomplished strategists, adds further authority to the studio discussion. The reporting duties are handled by Polly James, who continues to provide live reaction and player interviews from the venue, while Lewis Jones serves as MC, helping to set the atmosphere inside the Winter Gardens.

The match itself has been shaped by strong form from both players. Gerwyn Price booked his place in the last four with an impressive win over Rob Cross, while Gian van Veen reached the same stage after edging James Wade 16-13 in a tense contest. Sky Sports reported that van Veen’s victory set up a “tantalising World Matchplay semi-final” against Price, underlining the significance of a meeting between two in-form, high-scoring players.Sky Sports coverage

For viewers in Britain, Sky Sports remains the key home for the World Matchplay, with live coverage running throughout the weekend from Blackpool. That makes the Price v van Veen semi-final a major part of the channel’s Saturday evening schedule, and one of the standout live sporting events available on UK television.

From a sporting perspective, this is also an intriguing contrast in styles and experience. Price is a former world number one and a proven championship performer, while van Veen is one of the brightest young talents in the PDC system and arrived in Blackpool with growing momentum. Their semi-final is likely to draw strong interest not only from British audiences but also from darts fans worldwide who follow the World Matchplay as one of the sport’s most prestigious summer events.

The quality of the broadcast team should add to the occasion. Paton’s presenting style, Studd’s measured play-by-play, Durrant’s champion’s perspective, Webster’s analytical detail and Part’s deep tactical understanding give Sky Sports a panel capable of explaining both the intensity and the finer margins of elite darts. With James Wade, Cross and other major names already featured in the tournament narrative, this semi-final arrives with plenty of context and expectation.

For UK viewers asking where to watch, the answer is straightforward: Sky Sports Action is carrying the live action, with the session also extending across Sky’s wider sports output. Given the calibre of the pundits and commentators involved, the broadcast is likely to be as much a part of the evening as the match itself.

Article generated: 25 July 2026, 20:05 GMT

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