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 – 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
Van Gerwen v Dobey LIVE
And here we go! We’re underway.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:51
Van Gerwen v Dobey LIVE
And now we have van Gerwen, about to take part in his ninth world championship semi-final.
An even louder chorus of chants greets the Dutchman.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:50
Van Gerwen v Dobey LIVE
Dobey is out first, to a pretty raucous Ally Pally reception. He looks focused.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:49
Van Gerwen v Dobey LIVE
We’re moments away from the walk-outs now…
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:46
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:43
Van Gerwen v Dobey LIVE
A reminder that van Gerwen is a three-time winner of this tournament, and he’s looking to make his seventh final. He last won in 2019, but made the final in 2022.
Dobey has never got this far in the competition before.
Chris Wilson2 January 2025 19:39
