Luke Littler battles Stephen Bunting for a place in tomorrow’s World Darts Championship final with the semi-finals taking place tonight at Alexandra Palace.
The 17-year old remains the tournament favourite ahead of tonight’s main match-up, and he faces 39-year-old Bunting, who has never made the final of this competition.
And ahead of that fixture, Michael van Gerwen will face Chris Dobey for the other spot in the final, with the Dutchman – who has won this tournament three times – the bookies’ favourite to take the win.
With Luke Humphries having crashed out of the tournament in the fourth round, we’re guaranteed a new winner in 2025, and with three of the four semi-finalists having never won before, fans are in for an intriguing couple of days at Ally Pally, with the final places of the Premier League Darts 2025 also set to be decided.
Follow all of the build-up from Ally Pally in our live blog below:
Van Gerwen v Dobey – 1-0 (2-1)
Steady scoring from both players in the third leg, but Dobey has the upper hand as he takes 56 to leave himself needing 126.
He’s under pressure from the Dutchman, who needs 40…and he misses the bull to checkout!
Agony for Dobey as van Gerwen hits the double 20 to take the third leg.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 20:08
Van Gerwen v Dobey – 1-0 (1-1)
Better from van Gerwen this time round, with over 100 on his first three visits, but can he checkout on 84?
He can! Helands the triple 20 and double 12 to take the second leg!
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 20:06
Van Gerwen v Dobey – 1-0 (0-1)
Underway in the second set. 59 for van Gerwen to start, and 134 for Dobey. Both players averaging over 100 at the moment.
Dobey builds up an early lead against the throw, with a second 134 taking him to within 93, while van Gerwen needs over 200.
Dobey misses double 16 for the checkout, but at the second time of asking he lands it first time to take the first leg.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 20:04
Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey
That has to go down as a statement of an opening set from Van Gerwen. He set the tone by rifling in a 180 with his first three darts of the match, before breaking Dobey’s throw with a 14-dart leg.
A 12-darter and a 15-darter followed in a 3-1 win that took just six minutes as the Dutchman laid down a serious early marker. For his part, Dobey didn’t play badly – averaging 99.61 and winning the third leg with a 13-darter himself, but MVG’s 103.81 average has let the Englishman know he’s not here to mess about.
There have been little signs that just maybe Van Gerwen is recapturing the form that made him almost untouchable at his peak a few years ago. That’s a worry for his opponents if so. A focused Van Gerwen is a dangerous Van Gerwen.
Luke Baker at Alexandra Palace2 January 2025 20:02
Van Gerwen v Dobey – van Gerwen takes the first set!
A solid start for the Dutchman there. He looks calm and composed.
A reminder that the semi-finals are best of 11 sets, so the first to six will win.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 20:00
Van Gerwen v Dobey – van Gerwen takes the first set!
Not a solid start to the fourth leg for either player, with van Gerwen failing to get a triple figure score in his first three visits to the Oche.
He lands 100 though, and checks out with tops on 75 to take the first set!
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:59
Van Gerwen v Dobey – 2-1
An opening break for van Gerwen, so can he capitalise?
He certainly can, hitting 180 on his second time at the Oche before firing in 100 for 2-0! That’s an 11-dart leg.
Dobey fights back in the third though, landing his own 180 to take a commanding lead. He follows up with 140, but takes 76 when needing 84.
No matter though, as he lands double four to take the third leg.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:56
Van Gerwen v Dobey – 1-0
Van Gerwen opens with a 180! An early reminder of his quality. He follows up with a 140.
The Dutchman takes the lead and narrowly misses taking the first leg as he misses the bull.
Dobey has the chance to take it but he misses out, and van Gerwen makes no mistake on double eight to take leg one.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:53
Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble receives a good response from the crowd as Chris Dobey walks out for his first World Championship semi-final but Seven Nation Army for Michael van Gerwen is always a winner. “Oh Michael van Gerwen” rings round Ally Pally – the crowd are up for this tonight.
Van Gerwen is favourite for this clash and a place in a seventh PDC World Championship final should be his, on paper. Of course, sport is not played on paper but how Dobey handles the nerves in his first World Championship semi-final could set the tone in this one.
Luke Baker at Alexandra Palace2 January 2025 19:52
