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Dobey nailed the throw in the first set, and Van Gerwen knew the first leg was the perfect time to strike. All he has to do now is hold the throw and he can build a handy 2-0 lead…
Van Gerwen remported the premier set 3-1
Dobey can't apply any pressure on Van Gerwen's throw, and the Dutchman scores 75 in three darts, finishing on top, to win the first set in no time.
Premier set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (jambes 1-2) Dobey will be eager to be on the board, and an early 180 helps his cause. He misses the double eight but Van Gerwen is adrift and Dobey takes him at the second request.
Premier set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (jambes 0-2) Van Gerwen holds with an 11-dart leg and Dobey is almost immediately on the back foot.
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 broadcasts this for free!
Premier set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (jambes 0-1) Dobey throws first, and Van Gerwen goes straight in with a max, then a 140. No waste, although he misses the bull for a 12 dart. Dobey gets a shot up top, but misses – and MvG hits the double eight to break!
A worrying development for viewers outside the UK, from Chris Langford: “For those of us outside the UK we have to watch this on the (paid) PDC website, and of course it is totally planted – so we will respond. on your comment for now! »
Here are the players…
Dobey is up first, on PJ & Duncan's “Let's Get Ready to Rhumble.” Local connection and upbeat number, but perhaps lacking in singing ability – 7/10. Next up is Van Gerwen with his Pink Floyd/White Stripes combo – which never fails. 9/10, MvG wins the walk-on battle.
Some pre-match discussions with both players behind the scenes:
Chris Dobey : “It’s an incredible feeling, a great achievement and a big step in my career. I'm looking forward to the challenge and I'm pretty confident for tonight.
Michael van Gerwen: “There's still a long way to go, but I feel good, and that's the most important thing. I had to find something more (against Callan Rydz) and I did it. I have to concentrate on my own game, but let's see what happens.
Here we go, then. The Ally Pally is packed and the first visitors are minutes away. Any predictions? I will Dobey 2-6 Van Gerwenalthough in a closer competition than this score suggests…
Our first semi-final will begin in about 20 minutes. Here's Jonathan Liew to find out if the Ally Pally is still big enough for the sport's flagship event…
Profile: Michael van Gerwen
Surnom : Mighty Mike/MvG
World ranking: No. 3
Ville natale : Vlijmen, Pays-Bas
Major titles: 48 and above
Best in the world PDC: Winner 2014, 2017 and 2019
Ambient music: Seven Nations Army
Ten years ago, Van Gerwen took Luke Littler's place; the heir apparent to Phil Taylor's throne who seemed capable of winning the world title year after year. The fact that he has only won three Ally Pally crowns is almost disappointing; Van Gerwen lost his ruthless streak at times here, losing as many finals as he won.
That said, even Littler would struggle to keep up with the flying Dutchman at his best. Furthermore, Van Gerwen is still only 35 years old and has time to achieve a world title more suited to his qualities, much like Ronnie O'Sullivan did in snooker. The way MvG has held up to Callan Rydz's electric form in the last eight bodes well for their chances.
On the way to the semi-finals: R2 beat James Hurrell 3-0, R3 beat Brendan Dolan 4-2, R4 beat Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2, QF beat Callan Rydz 5-3.
Profile: Chris Dobey
Surnom: Hollywood
World ranking: No. 15
Ville natale : Bedlington
Major titles: Masters 2023
Best in the world PDC: 2025 semi-finals
Accompanying music: let's get ready to rumble
Much like in men's tennis, Dobey is part of a 'Next Gen' group whose gradual rise in the darts world has been overshadowed by Littler's rapid rise. The 34-year-old is expected to break into the world's top 10 next year, reward for reaching his first semi-final here, after losing 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 during his first Premier League campaign the same year. Like his football team, Newcastle, Dobey remains determined to one day break into the elite.
On the way to the semi-finals: R2 beat Alexander Merkx 3-1, R3 with Josh Rock 4-2, R4 with Kevin Doets 4-3, QF with Gerwyn Price 5-3.
Will we see a nine darter tonight? There have already been two in this year's tournament, but the two players who made one – Christian Kist and Damon Heta – lost the match.
Preamble
Welcome to Alexandra Palace, London. In the 92 matches played over 14 days so far, we've seen surprise exits, unexpected comebacks, nine darts and all-time classics. Ninety-six players participated in the Ally Pally oche; only four remain in the running. The previous four world champions – Luke Humphries, Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price – have all fallen, leaving behind an intriguing and finely balanced final four.
The only previous winner still in the field, Michael van Gerwen, showed flashes of his unstoppable best as he seeks a fourth world title. He starts as favorite against Chris Dobey, who is playing in his first world semi-final after beating Price – but the No.15 seed often brings his best darts to 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 final. Instead, Humphries was shocked by a resurgent Wright, who then failed to replicate 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 World Championships, Bunting has rarely looked in better form.
It's a perfect semi-final lineup: the chosen champion against the sharp old stager, and the friendly, competent underdog against a wounded former palace king. Destiny hints at a Littler versus Van Gerwen finale and a passing of the torch, but rarely are things so predictable when the lights go out and the arrows start flying.
19h40 GMT : [15] Chris Dobey versus Michael van Gerwen [3]
21h30 GMT: [8] Stephen Bunting contre Luke Littler [4]
