Three-time winner Michael van Gerwen and two-time runner-up Michael Smith are favourites to make it through to Tuesday’s final at Alexandra Palace Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship semi-finals – live on Sky Sports Darts – later on Monday January 2
By Raz Mirza at Alexandra Palace
Last Updated: 02/01/23 8:26am
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith are favourites to make it through to the World Darts Championship final on Tuesday
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith could be on a collision course to meet in the World Darts Championship final, but Dimitri Van den Bergh and Gabriel Clemens are standing in their way.
Three-time World Champion Van Gerwen stormed through to the semi-finals with a straight-sets demolition of Chris Dobey in a quick-fire tussle which lasted just over 33 minutes of play, averaging 102, landing five 180s and relinquishing just three legs en route to a crushing 5-0 win.
Belgian No 1 Van den Bergh moved through to the semi-finals for the first time in his career, running out a 5-3 winner in a test of endurance against Jonny Clayton.
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Van Gerwen says he’s looking forward to the challenge of Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semi-finals
Monday, January 2 – Semi-Finals (1930 GMT)
| Gabriel Clemens | vs | Michael Smith |
| Dimitri Van den Bergh | vs | Michael van Gerwen |
Van Gerwen will continue his bid for a fourth World crown against Van den Bergh, who is aiming to become the first Belgian player to lift the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.
“If Michael van Gerwen turns up, he is going to win the game, but you need to make sure your preparation is right, your focus is good,” said the Dutchman.
“You need to believe in your own opportunities and your own ability, and that’s what I do.
“I have learnt from my defeats in the last few years and I’ve come back stronger. I feel comfortable, my belief is back and I’m looking forward to the semi-finals.”
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Wayne Mardle says MVG is brimming with confidence after he demolished Chris Dobey 5-0 in the quarter-finals
Van den Bergh says he is ready to take his chance, but faces a difficult task against an opponent he recently faced at the World Matchplay, losing 17-14 in the semi-finals.
“I’m really happy to have reached the semi-finals. It’s special to pull through. They always say third time [to reach the semi-finals] is the right time and today it happened,” said dancing Van den Bergh.
“I am always dreaming. They call me the DreamMaker – I’m not afraid. I haven’t shown my best yet but I do feel as though I am stepping up. My finishing touch has got to be on point but my game, my focus, my belief, to reality.”
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Van den Bergh defeated Jonny Clayton to become the first Belgian to make it to the semi-finals of the World Championship
He continued: “I know I can step up and hit 12-dart legs or lower and I really want to make history by hitting two nine-darters at the world championship.
“If Dimitri rocks up the way he can, then everybody has to fear me. I’m working hard, I’m practising hard and I’m just two games away from making my dreams come true. I really hope it keeps going the way it’s going – my way!
“I know there’s still a few levels to go but the main thing is I don’t want to be finished in the next round.
“I’ve had the semi-finals at the Matchplay and quarter-finals at the World Grand Prix so I’m slowly improving. But I didn’t even qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts and a couple of months later I’m in the semi-finals of the worlds. There are positives and I like to focus on positives.”
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Gabriel Clemens was delighted to become the first German player to reach the semi-finals
German trailblazer Gabriel Clemens goes up against fourth seed Michael Smith in the first semi-final of the night at Alexandra Palace.
Grand Slam champion Smith moved to within a win of his third world championship final in five years with a hard-fought 5-3 defeat of Stephen Bunting, while Clemens continued his history-making run with a sensational 5-1 demolition of world No 1 Gerwyn Price.
The 39-year-old, who was supported by a 600-strong contingent from Germany, said: “I made a really good game and I have no words for that, but I’m really happy. I think what’s happening is good for darts in Germany.
“Michael Smith is the Grand Slam champion and he’s one of the favourites in the tournament and one of the best players in the world. I have my chances and I will make a good game. I think I can beat everybody here.”
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Michael Smith says he was fortunate to win his quarter-final against Stephen Bunting, but cannot afford to play that poorly in the semi-finals
Smith said: “I think this whole tournament I’ve been ugly and winning ugly apart from the Joe Cullen but I’m in the semi-finals and I’m still playing for the world championship.
“I’m in my third semis at the Worlds. I’ve not won yet but the first two I’ve made the final.
“It’s business head on and knowing how I’ve played the last 12 months I could lift the title. But it’s also about doing it when I need to do it as well.”
Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts – through to the final on January 3.