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In a repeat of the 2019 final, Michael van Gerwen will face Michael Smith for World Championship glory! Watch the PDC World Darts Championship 2023 – live on Sky Sports Darts. We return on Tuesday night at 7.45pm for the final at Alexandra Palace
By Raz Mirza at Alexandra Palace
Last updated: 03/01/23 12:00
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith will go head-to-head in the World Darts Championship final on Tuesday night at Alexandra Palace
Michael van Gerwen set up a dream World Championship final against Michael Smith as two of the best players on the darts planet stormed through their respective semi-finals.
Van Gerwen was eager to claim his fourth world title and first since 2019 with a 6-0 demolition job on Dimitri Van den Bergh, while Smith defeated surprise package Gabriel Clemens 6-2.
Monday 2nd January – Results from the semi-finals at Ally Pally
| Gabriel Clemens | 2-6 | Michael Smith |
| Dimitri Van den Bergh | 0-6 | Michael van Gerwen |
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Van Gerwen has spoken of his semi-final bust-up with Van den Bergh and is looking forward to a date with Smith in the final.
Van den Bergh came out for this match with Van Gerwen looking all-business and he immediately made his mark by reeling in the fifth 170 checkout of the tournament for a 2-1 lead in the leg, but the Dutch leveled before nailing an 11-darter. to take the opening set in the throw.
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Aggro at darts! Van den Bergh was not happy with Van Gerwen’s position when he threw
‘Mighty Mike’ then unleashed three unanswered legs to break first and doubled his lead to 55 per cent in doubles before the pair exchanged words at the start of the third set with Van Gerwen appearing to attack the opponent’s space in the game. stage.
The three-time world champion remained focused on hitting his own 170 finish and he immediately cleared eight straight legs en route to extending his lead to 3-0 with a record 128.83 – throwing just 35 darts in the process.
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Both Van Den Bergh and Van Gerwen defeated ‘The Big Fish’ in the semi-finals
Van den Bergh threw two over the top in the deciding leg in the fourth set to allow Van Gerwen to come back twice 5 for more clear and he moved a step closer to the sixth final by romping through the fifth set thanks to legs 13, 11 and 11.
It was a job well done in the next with MVG completing the whitewash of Van den Bergh with an average of 108.3 and nine 180s.
Only 74 Darts needed! Michael van Gerwen averaged 121.86 in the last two sets. In the last four sets (14 legs) the average is 112.62.
“It felt phenomenal to play the game I played tonight,” Van Gerwen said. “I gave it my all and I played out of my skin.
“It costs a lot of energy but I can do it and that’s the most important thing. With so many people behind me now, it feels phenomenal.
“Games can be tense but you have to focus on yourself and what I’m doing.”
Smith reached his third final in five years
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Smith was in top form when he won the semi-final, hitting five ton-plus checkouts in the match!
Smith is hoping a few episodes of Catchphrase will help him prepare for his third attempt to become world champion after booking his place in Tuesday’s final with an impressive win over Clemens ‘The German Giant’.
Both players came out slinging some serious arrows but it was ‘Bully Boy’ who edged the first blistering set 3-2 with an average of 110.7, four 180s and 106 checkouts in the deciding leg.
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Smith won the opening set with this incredible 106 finish
The St Helens hurler left kicked himself in the next after moving 2-0 up and seemingly in control. Clemens, who has been christened ‘Gaga’ by German fans, carded 68 and 70 to take it 3-2 despite Smith’s average just shy of 110.
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‘Bully Boy’ piled on 144 in the second set against Clemens
Smith took a 2-1 lead in the third set thanks to a monstrous 144 checkout but was once again pushed into the deciding leg. Clemens wired the top for 116 finishes, allowing Smith to return to the top to regain the lead.
Smith, last year’s runner-up to Peter Wright, pinned the bull for a gargantuan 161 to raise the roof of Ally Pally in the fourth set. However, Clemens kept his nerve to clinch it 3-2 and restore balance in what turned into a real tungsten battle.
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The St Helens hurlers struck with a massive 161 checkout on the bullseye in the fourth set
In a thrilling semi-final, the 32-year-old newly-crowned Grand Slam of Darts champion cruised through his fifth set in straight legs to claim top spot with an impressive set average of 112.73.
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Smith put some clouds between him and Clemens with an impressive 83 in the bullseye
And Smith struck in the next fifth leg with a superb 83 on the bullseye to move 4-2 up before claiming the next in another decider to make it three sets in play to seal a place in the final.
Michael Smith finished more than a third of the 22 legs in four visits to the oche.
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The Grand Slam of Darts champion announced his preparations on Tuesday after booking his place in the final…
He completed a handsome victory at the end after the break with a cool 81 for a 12-darter and then ended it with the first match dart on top.
Smith said: “This is the third World final in five years now and I just have to continue. champion. I will not think about it and I will continue to fight every year. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.
Asked how he was going to spend Tuesday before the final, he added: “I’m going to lie in bed tomorrow and watch a few episodes of Catchphrase.”
Watch the PDC World Darts Championship Final – live on Sky Sports Darts – from 7.45pm on Tuesday.
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