Littler v Van Gerwen: historic final awaits
Luke Littler is one win away from creating history as he booked his place in a second successive PDC World Darts Championship final.
The 17-year-old beat Stephen Bunting 6-1 in a masterful semi-final performance at Alexandra Palace, remaining on course to become the youngest men’s world champion in the sport.
Standing in the way of his destiny is the current record holder Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 when he won his first title, after the Dutchman saw off Chris Dobey 6-1 in his last-four match.
Friday night’s final promises to be the hottest ticket in town as the two biggest names in the sport go head-to-head for the Sid Waddell Trophy.
Littler is chasing the crown he threatened to win on debut 12 months ago as a 16-year-old, eventually losing to Luke Humphries in the final, while the Dutchman is one win away from a fourth title. PA Media
Time for me to sign off after an entertaining night at the Palace, albeit one that played out as expected. Luke Littler will face Michael van Gerwen in Friday’s final, and I already can’t wait. Be sure to join Rob Smyth for live coverage, and we’ll have Jonathan Liew’s live report from tonight’s action online very soon. Thanks for reading!
Littler is the bookies’ favourite for the final, at 6-4 to Van Gerwen’s 2-1. It should be an absolute cracker – Littler may be unstoppable if he hits top gear, but there is a mental obstacle to overcome, given that he lost the final to Luke Humphries last year. Then again, MvG has lost his last two final appearances – he has demons to face, too.
Let’s hear from Luke Littler, then. “It’s been an amazing tournament so far … I haven’t been thinking about the title, just what was in front of me. Getting through each round, one game at a time.”
“I’ve won plenty of titles, but it’s all leading up to the big one … I can’t wait for tomorrow night. If we both turn up like we did tonight, it’s going to be good. We all know he’s hunting another world title; I’m hunting for my first.”
Littler sets up final with Van Gerwen
It’s on, alright. Luke Littler will face Michael van Gerwen in Friday night’s final, after both players won their semi-finals 6-1. Littler returns to the final with victory over Stephen Bunting, while Van Gerwen saw off Chris Dobey to reach his seventh PDC showpiece.
Littler beats Bunting 6-1 to reach the final!
On Bunting’s throw, Littler is first to a finish on 126, and neatens that up to 40. Bunting needs 156 to stay alive, and falls short on the second dart. The only question is whether he’ll hit it first time. He does. Welcome back to the world championship final, Luke Littler.
Bunting 1-5 Littler (seventh set, 1-2 in legs) Bunting has hit 12 doubles from 33 tonight – way below what he’s capable of, but a sign also of the sheer pressure Littler can put on his opponents. Here, Littler needs 170, then watches Bunting hit 170 as a setup shot. Littler simply isn’t having that kind of disrespect, and lands the big fish himself to go one leg away from the final.
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Bunting 1-5 Littler (seventh set, 1-1 in legs) Bunting lands a tricky finish – 80, from two single 20s and tops – to level up the set.
Bunting 1-5 Littler (seventh set, 0-1 in legs) Littler hands Bunting a chance to break with a couple of careless misses – but Bunting can’t take it, also missing twice on the outer ring, and looking like he’s ready to call it a night as Littler lands double four.
Littler wins the sixth set, leads 5-1
From holding three darts to cut the gap to 4-2, Bunting is back on the ropes. In search of an 84 checkout, Littler lands the bull and lets out a roar. It’s another 12-dart leg, and Luke Littler is one set from returning to the world championship final …
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Bunting 1-4 Littler (sixth set, 2-2 in legs) Bunting starts with a maximum, and for the first time all night, Littler looks a touch uneasy. Another Bunting maximum takes him down to 24 – but he misses two darts at D12, and one at D6. Littler, in the madhouse after a pressure-building 180, lands the double one. Absolute agony for Bunting!
Bunting 1-4 Littler (sixth set, 2-1 in legs) Bunting is trying to do what Ryan Joyce did to Littler earlier in the tournament – keep pinching legs, keep scrapping, and hope it throws his opponent off. Here, he gets down to 68, with Littler on 105 – and as he misses one dart at D20, Bunting hits double four to take the lead in this set.
Bunting 1-4 Littler (sixth set, 1-1 in legs) Maximum No 12 for Littler – I’ll recap the 180 standings later, but rest assured, he is top by a distance. He gets down to 160, but fumbles slightly to leave 97 with Bunting on the big fish. Neither player can get it done, but Bunting finds an essential double eight to break straight back!
Bunting 1-4 Littler (sixth set, 0-1 in legs) After the break, Bunting joins the crowd in a Robbie Williams singalong, while Littler feigns disappointment. A bit of late-season panto, before Littler gets back to business, edging ahead on Bunting’s throw. He misses his first two shots at D20, but the third is in the heart of the bed.
Is the comeback on? I wouldn’t count on it – Bunting, smiling broadly to his son in the crowd, looked more relieved to get out from under Littler’s boot for a brief moment. But you never know.
“I’m still extremely high after watching Dundee United move up to third in the Scottish Premiership with an 88th-minute winner away to Dundee,” writes Simon McMahon. “There’s no better feeling. Except maybe at the darts, where everyone just seems high on life all the time. Hoping for a classic final between Littler and Van Gerwen tomorrow. Unless of course Bunting can turn this around.”
I caught the end of that game – the limbs in the Dens Park away end were a match for anything we’ve seen at the Ally Pally tonight.
Bunting wins the fifth set, trails 4-1
A rare drop-off from Littler gives Bunting six darts from 170, but he ends up with just one set dart at tops, which is missed. Littler, on 83, has two darts at D16 to break back – but misses both! Bunting breathes a sigh of relief, and checks out D20 to get on the board.
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Bunting 0-4 Littler (fifth set, 2-1 in legs) Littler keeps Bunting at arm’s length here, taking out a ton with a double-double-tops. A nice touch, and the pressure is firmly on his opponent.
Bunting 0-4 Littler (fifth set, 2-0 in legs) So, Bunting breaks throw and has the chance to get a set on the board. It may be now or never. Littler hits a max, just reminding his opponent he’s there, but Bunting matches it – and lands double 10 to hold.
Bunting 0-4 Littler (fifth set, 1-0 in legs) Littler has won 12 legs to Bunting’s six, which is not quite as dominant as the set-score suggests. He misses a chance to make it 13 as he drags a shot at D20 low – and Bunting finally makes him pay, nailing double four!
Stephen Bunting has worked incredibly hard to improve his game and climb the rankings. He’s practiced with Luke Humphries, and undergone hypnotherapy sessions. He’s arguably been in the form of his life, but he’s trying to beat an absolute force of nature here.
Littler wins the fourth set, leads 4-0
True grit here from Bunting, finding a 180 with time running out on Littler’s throw. It leaves him 81, and he misses double 13 by a hair’s breadth. But miss it he does, and Littler hits double eight straight away. That pretty much sums this match up; Littler leads 4-0.
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Bunting 0-3 Littler (fourth set, 1-2 in legs) Littler baffles even himself with an opening 27, and then another 180. He’s looking very relaxed up there, as Bunting tries to find some way into this match. From 114, he drags his one dart at tops low, and Littler sticks the boot in by hitting double 20 on his first attempt.
Bunting 0-3 Littler (fourth set, 1-1 in legs) Bunting is struggling for any real consistency, following up that strong start with a non-contest of a leg. He’s stuck on 189 as Littler lands that trusty double 10 once again.
Bunting 0-3 Littler (fourth set, 1-0 in legs) Bunting desperately needs this set before the next break, or his target will become avoiding a whitewash. He starts with four perfect darts, and takes the leg on D16 despite Littler hitting 180 to turn up the pressure.
Littler wins the third set, leads 3-0
Littler opens the deciding leg with a maximum – of course he does – and Bunting can only offer a paltry 140 – and then a nervy 27 as the pressure proves too much. Littler is miles clear, needing 47 after nine darts, and getting the job done in 12. Outrageous stuff.
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Bunting 0-2 Littler (third set, 2-2 in legs) Bunting now has to hold on, and takes his time on the approach before 122. He misses the bull, and Littler could twist the knife with a 142 checkout – but clips the wire on double eleven! Bunting, a relieved man, holds on D8.
Bunting 0-2 Littler (third set, 1-2 in legs) Littler shows that frightening bouncebackability again, firing in five perfect darts and getting down to 54 off nine darts. “Rubbish,” mutters Bunting as he hits 44 – and Littler promptly cleans up an 11-dart leg.
Bunting 0-2 Littler (third set, 1-1 in legs) Littler smashes in a maximum to start the leg, and a break looks certain until he hits single five when aiming for tops. Bunting stops the rot with a clinical two-dart 64 checkout …
Bunting 0-2 Littler (third set, 0-1 in legs) Bunting has hit three doubles out of 13 (23%), which is nowhere near good enough. He doesn’t even get a look at the outer ring here, with Littler picking off a 158 finish, and showing signs of his is-he-actually-human best.
One set of the highest quality, and another that was a slugfest – but both were won by Luke Littler, and Bunting is already under pressure to make a match of this.
Littler wins the second set, leads 2-0
Both players’ levels have dropped in unison – they are both averaging around 90 in this set. It’s a bigger problem for Bunting, who is left behind when Littler finds two T20s to leave 40 on the board. Three darts at tops … he only needs one.
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Bunting 0-1 Littler (second set, 1-2 in legs) Littler is an exceptional front-runner but is also very good at putting a bad leg behind him. He’s straight back among the trebles, but a failed attempt to check out 92 draws a wry smile. Bunting, though, misses two darts at D16 and Littler breaks back on double six.
Bunting 0-1 Littler (second set, 1-1 in legs) A first crack in Bunting’s titanium there, but he bounces back smartly, only just missing bull from a 164 checkout. Littler follows suit, just missing the bullseye, Bunting busts, Littler loses his way and misses double 10. Bunting breaks back to settle a scrappy leg.
Bunting 0-1 Littler (second set, 0-1 in legs) After a scratchy start on throw, Bunting finds 139 to leave the big fish. He gets the two treble 20s, but the shot at bull is a mile off – and Littler leaves tops to apply pressure. It works, with Bunting missing two leg darts before Littler nails D10 again.
Bunting’s three-dart average in the first set was 113.35. And he lost. Littler managed 105.92, which isn’t bad either. There’s already an intensity to this match that was largely missing from the first semi-final.
Luke Littler wins the first set
Both players are averaging well over 100, with Bunting switching to T19s well after Littler finds another maximum. Littler, from 87, has one wayward shot at the bull. Bunting is on 92, but can’t find a treble – and Littler takes out his favourite double, D10, to claim the set.
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Bunting 0-0 Littler (first set, 2-2 in legs) Bunting has come to play, with another 180 helping him take charge before he checks out 41 in two darts. Can he break again and snatch this first set?
Bunting 0-0 Littler (first set, 1-2 in legs) This is akin to how Littler started against Aspinall in the quarters – pedal straight to the metal. Bunting finds five perfect darts in a row in response, though, and while he drags a shot at tops low, he finds double 10 to break back!
Bunting 0-0 Littler (first set, 0-2 in legs) A first 180 for Littler puts the pressure on Bunting – and he hits a second straight away! The break is on, sealed on double 10.
Bunting 0-0 Littler (first set, 0-1 in legs) Littler opens with a 140, and adds another as Bunting struggles for trebles. Littler is so far clear he can afford to set up tops – and despite a maximum from Bunting, he takes the first leg in 14 darts.
Bunting v Littler is live!
Here we go, then. Stephen Bunting enters to “Titanium”, cupping his ears to the crowd. Always brings the house down, 10/10, no notes. Luke Littler is out next, to the catchy “Greenlight” by Pitbull and co. Great singalong potential, but Bunting a tough act to follow. 8/10, Bunting edges the walk-ons.
Profile: Luke Littler
Nickname: The Nuke
World ranking: No 4
Home town: Warrington
Major titles: PL, World Series, Grand Slam 2024
PDC worlds best: Final 2024
Walk-on music: Greenlight
At the start of last year’s tournament, Luke Littler was a name only known to darts aficionados who had picked up on his strong showings at floor events. His incredible run to the world final made him famous far beyond the sport, but while other rising stars have wilted in the spotlight, Littler has swiftly moved to the top of the world.
Now world No 4 and back in the semi-finals, it feels like a matter of time until Littler – still only 17 – is the No 1 and world champion. He is the favourite to lift the trophy and playing like it; even a player as talented as Nathan Aspinall could not keep up with him in their quarter-final. Can anyone stop the Prince of the Palace becoming the King?
Road to semi-finals: R2 beat Ryan Meikle 3-1, R3 bt Ian White 4-1, R4 bt Ryan Joyce 4-3, QF bt Nathan Aspinall 5-2.
Profile: Stephen Bunting
Nickname: The Bullet
World ranking: No 8
Home town: St Helens
Major titles: BDO worlds 2014, Masters 2024
PDC worlds best: Semis 2021, 2025
Walk-on music: Titanium
Bunting is only 39 (and two months younger than Cristiano Ronaldo), but he has been a familiar face on the darts circuit ever since winning the Lakeside title in 2014. Tipped to be a world title contender when he joined the PDC, Bunting struggled to break through at first but has become a top-10 player this year and claimed a TV title with the Masters.
Can ‘The Bullet’ take down ‘The Nuke’ tonight and reach his first Ally Pally final? He has been in imperious form so far in this tournament, and has the tenacity and checkout skills to rein heavy-hitting opponents in. Bunting should also have the crowd on his side; he has become one of the PDC Tour’s most well-liked players.
Road to semi-finals: R2 beat Kai Gotthardt 3-1, R3 bt Madars Razma 4-1, R4 bt Luke Woodhouse 4-0, QF bt Peter Wright 5-2.
Bunting v Littler is moments away – so here’s more info on our second pair of semi-finalists …
My moment of the match – just brutal from Van Gerwen.
VINTAGE VAN GERWEN!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2025
That is Michael van Gerwen at his brilliant best!
Dobey misses double five for an early break in set six, and Van Gerwen punishes with a BRUTAL 158 checkout!
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts | SFs pic.twitter.com/Dbrj0oh3tg
Spiky stuff from MvG there – he’s entirely fluent in English, and I can’t recall him ever letting slip an F-bomb before. I think talk of where the title would rank got under his skin – he is very much in “one game at a time” mode.
Here’s Michael van Gerwen: “98, 99 average, it’s not that bad … of course I want to play as explosive as I can, but I was efficient, which you have to be to win games. It’s about the mentality – even when things weren’t going my way, I was able to produce some good stuff.”
“The title is still far away, I’ve got to battle tomorrow, that’s how I see it.” Where would the title rank among his other three? “I can’t think about that. I’m only in the final – I’ve won [eff] all yet!” Sky then have to apologise for the naughty word.
Van Gerwen beats Dobey 6-1!
Dobey 1-6 Van Gerwen Van Gerwen starts with 140, but Dobey hits back with a maximum. That only angers his opponent, who leaves 41 after nine darts – but misses two match darts at D16. Dobey can’t take down a monster checkout, though, and next time, Van Gerwen doesn’t miss!
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Dobey 1-5 Van Gerwen (seventh set, 1-2 in legs) Dobey needs 158 with Van Gerwen lurking on 82. He comes up short and MvG gets one shot at tops. It’s all he needs, and it’s all but over now.
Dobey 1-5 Van Gerwen (seventh set, 1-1 in legs) Van Gerwen has taken on this match like a middle-distance runner, powering out of the blocks and always keeping his opponent at arm’s length. He earns room to miss a couple of doubles here before holding throw.
Dobey 1-5 Van Gerwen (seventh set, 1-0 in legs) The way Van Gerwen has eased through the gears here is frightening – and he starts the seventh set with two 180s! Again, the seventh dart lets him down, but he’s in charge of the leg. Or is he? Two misses at double 12 leave Dobey with “Shanghai” – S20, T20, D20 – and he only goes and gets it. Fair play to the lad.
Van Gerwen wins the sixth set, leads 5-1
Dobey’s level drops again and he can’t put any pressure on Van Gerwen, who nails double tops to wrap up the sixth set.
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Dobey 1-4 Van Gerwen (sixth set, 2-2 in legs) Dobey makes a sketchy attempt to check out 160 and Van Gerwen pounces, the chance for a second set taken away from Dobey without an ounce of ruth.
Dobey 1-4 Van Gerwen (sixth set, 2-1 in legs) Another chance for Dobey, on tops with Van Gerwen on 153 … the Dutchman gets close to another soul-crushing checkout, but just misses D18 and Dobey cleans up with his first dart. He’s outscoring MvG again now …
Dobey 1-4 Van Gerwen (sixth set, 1-1 in legs) Dobey pins double 16 to hold in a quickfire second leg, but he needs to find a break …
Dobey 1-4 Van Gerwen (sixth set, 0-1 in legs) Dobey hits just his second maximum of the night – a big drop-off from his previous form. It does earn him a shot at a break, but Dobey misses double five. No big deal though, with MvG on 158 … T20, T20, D19, done. It’s a hold of throw, but another dagger into poor Dobey’s self-belief.
Michael van Gerwen leads 4-1 in a race to six, and will throw first in the next set. He’s been dominant since losing the third set, and might actually want a bit more resistance from Dobey, with the final in mind. This isn’t over yet, of course. Not quite.
Van Gerwen wins the fifth set, leads 4-1
With 140 left, Van Gerwen hits T20, T20 and just misses D10 – but he cleans up on his next throw after Dobey can’t summon a ton-plus finish, and the final is in touching distance now.
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Dobey 1-3 Van Gerwen (fifth set, 1-2 in legs) Van Gerwen opens with a 140 on Dobey’s throw, and is comfortably first to a finish. Then, from nowhere, he spurns five darts at double eight for the set! Dobey scraps to hold and break the run of lost legs.
Dobey 1-3 Van Gerwen (fifth set, 0-2 in legs) Dobey again finds himself trying to keep Van Gerwen in his sights, but a half-chance from 124 is as close as he can get here. MvG has time to miss two doubles and still hold in 17 darts.
Dobey 1-3 Van Gerwen (fifth set, 0-1 in legs) Both players ease off the gas slightly at the start of this set, but Dobey misses a couple more doubles to hold, and Van Gerwen takes care of D14 to break.
Van Gerwen wins the fourth set, leads 3-1
Van Gerwen whittles his way down to 73, then hits 19, 14 and double tops to win a set that was over in what felt like 30 seconds.
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Dobey 1-2 Van Gerwen (fourth set, 0-2 in legs) Van Gerwen has dipped slightly, but here’s a statement of intent – back-to-back 180s, and a shot at a nine-darter! It goes awry, but he pins D16 to do it in 10 darts, and take charge of the fourth set.
Dobey 1-2 Van Gerwen (fourth set, 0-1 in legs) Van Gerwen to throw first in this set, and there’s no break, so we’re straight back at it. Undeterred by a third dart lodging between the other two, he takes out double tops in rapid fashion.
Chris Dobey wins the third set, trails 2-1
Both players wobble in their setup play, with MvG missing one dart at double tops – and Dobey punishes him mercilessly, checking out 108! He gets on the board with a 3-0 win, and suddenly we’re walking in a Dobey wonderland.
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Dobey 0-2 Van Gerwen (third set, 2-0 in legs) Dobey reels in the big fish! On Van Gerwen’s throw, both players end up on 170. Dobey is the best on the tour at taking out the maximum checkout – and he does it here. T20, T20, bull. Job done.
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Dobey 0-2 Van Gerwen (third set, 1-0 in legs) That was a brutal way to lose the set for Chris Dobey. He’s averaged just over 100 so far, and is two sets down. Can he bounce back quickly? He’s helped by Van Gerwen missing a double, but then misses tops. Double eight for MvG … but he busts on D16. At the third time of asking, Dobey finds double 10 to hold!
Van Gerwen grabs the second set!
Dobey nudges ahead with a pair of treble 19s and is first to a finish. He’s on 96 but can only shave it down to 40. Van Gerwen cannot reel in the big fish on 170, though … but chasing 40, Dobey chases and misses three doubles! You just know MvG will punish him, and he hits double 16 at the second time of asking. Huge moment!
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Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (second set, 2-2 in legs) Can Dobey hold here and force a deciding leg? Some tidy treble 18s keep him ahead, and he nails S16 D16 to level up the second set.
Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (second set, 1-2 in legs) A superb set-up of 139 takes Van Gerwen down to 40, and Dobey needs to take out 126 … he’s close, but misses the bull, and MvG does not miss tops.
Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (second set, 1-1 in legs) MvG goes for the bull to set up a finish but misses, opening the door for Dobey. A weak set-up shot lets him down, too, and Van Gerwen breaks back.
Second set: Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (legs 1-0) An opening here for Dobey on MvG’s throw – he misses double 16 but his opponent is still not on a finish. Van Gerwen gets down to 100, but Dobey nails the double for a 13-dart leg!
Dobey had the throw in the first set, and Van Gerwen knew that first leg was a perfect time to strike. Now, he just has to hold throw and he can carve out a handy 2-0 lead …
Van Gerwen takes the first set 3-1
Dobey can’t apply any pressure on the Van Gerwen throw, and the Dutchman checks out 75 in three darts, ending on tops, to take the first set in no time at all.
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First set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 1-2) Dobey will be keen to get on the board, and a first 180 helps his cause. He misses double eight but Van Gerwen is adrift, and Dobey takes it at the second time of asking.
First set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 0-2) Van Gerwen takes out 100 to hold with an 11-dart leg, and Dobey is on the back foot almost immediately.
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A more positive update for non-UK viewers, from Mac Scarle: “The Pluto TV app is a free streaming TV app that, at least, is available in the US. The Fanduel TV Extra channel is showing this for free!”
First set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 0-1) Dobey to throw first, and Van Gerwen is straight in with a max, then a 140. No messing, although he misses bull for a 12-darter. Dobey gets a shot at tops, but misses – and MvG hits double eight to break!
A worrying development for viewers outside the UK, from Chris Langford: “For those of us outside of the UK, we are having to watch this on the (paid for) PDC website, and of course, its totally crashed – so will be replying on your commentary for now!”
Here come the players ...
Dobey out first, to PJ & Duncan’s “Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble”. Local connection and an upbeat number, but maybe lacking singalongability – 7/10. Then it’s Van Gerwen with his Pink Floyd/White Stripes combo – never fails. 9/10, MvG wins the battle of the walk-ons.
Some pre-match chat from both players backstage:
Chris Dobey: “It’s an amazing feeling, big achievement and big step in my career. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and I’m quite confident going into tonight.”
Michael van Gerwen: “Long way to go, but I’m feeling good, and that’s the most important thing. I had to find something extra (against Callan Rydz) and I did. I have to concentrate on my own game, but let’s see what happens.”
Here we go, then. The Ally Pally is packed to the rafters, and the first walk-ons are moments away. Any predictions? I’m going Dobey 2-6 Van Gerwen, although in a contest closer than that scoreline suggests …
Our first semi-final gets under way in about 20 minutes’ time. Here’s Jonathan Liew on whether the Ally Pally is still big enough for the sport’s showpiece event…
Profile: Michael van Gerwen
Nickname: Mighty Mike/MvG
World ranking: No 3
Home town: Vlijmen, Netherlands
Major titles: 48 and counting
PDC worlds best: Winner 2014, 2017 and 2019
Walk-on music: Seven Nation Army
A decade ago, Van Gerwen was in Luke Littler’s position; the heir apparent to Phil Taylor’s throne who seemed capable of lifting the world title year after year. The fact he has only won three Ally Pally crowns feels almost disappointing; Van Gerwen has occasionally misplaced his ruthless streak here, losing as many finals as he has won.
That said, even Littler would struggle to keep up with the flying Dutchman at his absolute best. Also, Van Gerwen is still only 35, and has time to reach a world title haul more fitting his quality, much like Ronnie O’Sullivan has done in snooker. The way MvG held off the electric form of Callan Rydz in the last eight bodes well for his chances.
Road to semi-finals: R2 beat James Hurrell 3-0, R3 bt Brendan Dolan 4-2, R4 bt Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2, QF bt Callan Rydz 5-3.
Profile: Chris Dobey
Nickname: Hollywood
World ranking: No 15
Home town: Bedlington
Major titles: Masters 2023
PDC worlds best: Semis 2025
Walk-on music: Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble
Much like in men’s tennis, Dobey is part of a ‘Next Gen’ group whose gradual rise through the darting world has been overshadowed by Littler’s rapid ascent. The 34-year-old is due to crack the world’s top 10 next year, reward for reaching his first semi-finals here, having lost painfully in the quarter-finals in 2023 and 2024.
Dobey, who earned the nickname “Hollywood” for having the temerity to wear a baseball cap while playing as an amateur, won his first PDC title, the Masters, in 2023, but struggled in his first Premier League campaign in the same year. Like his football team, Newcastle, Dobey remains determined to break into the elite one day.
Road to semi-finals: R2 beat Alexander Merkx 3-1, R3 bt Josh Rock 4-2, R4 bt Kevin Doets 4-3, QF bt Gerwyn Price 5-3.
Will we see a nine-darter tonight? There have been two already at this year’s tournament, but both players to deliver one – Christian Kist and Damon Heta – went on to lose the match.
Preamble
Welcome to the Alexandra Palace, London. In the 92 matches played across 14 days so far, we’ve seen shock exits, unexpected comebacks, nine-darters and all-time classics. Ninety-six players have stood on the Ally Pally oche; only four remain in contention. The four previous world champions – Luke Humphries, Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price – have all fallen, leaving an intriguing and finely-balanced final four.
The only previous winner still in the field, Michael van Gerwen, has shown flashes of his unstoppable best as he seeks a fourth world title. He starts as favourite against Chris Dobey, who is into his first world semi-final after defeating Price – but the No 15 seed often brings his best darts to the Palace, and should not be underestimated.
When the draw was made, most observers expected a Luke v Luke semi-final, in a repeat of last year’s epic finale. Instead, Humphries was shocked by a resurgent Wright, who then failed to reproduce the same magic against Stephen Bunting. It’s the Bullet who faces the unenviable task of stopping Luke Littler tonight, but after a decade of disappointment at the PDC worlds, Bunting has rarely looked in better form.
It’s a perfect semi-final line up: the champion-elect against the sharpened old stager, and the likeable, capable underdog against a wounded former king of the Palace. Destiny hints at a Littler v Van Gerwen final and a passing of the torch, but things are rarely so predictable when the lights go down and arrows start flying.
7.40pm GMT: [15] Chris Dobey v Michael van Gerwen [3]
9.30pm GMT: [8] Stephen Bunting v Luke Littler [4]
