The Dutchman, who last won at Alexandra Palace in 2019, produced a masterful performance against Chris Dobey to claim a 6-1 victory.
After a miserable 2024, in which he failed to win a televised major and slipped behind Luke Littler and Luke Humphries in the reckoning, Van Gerwen is now one win away from re-establishing himself at the top of the sport.
He was in superb form against Dobey, who had broken new ground by reaching the semi-final for the first time.
He averaged just under 100, launched eight 180s and manufactured three bodies weighing more than three tonnes, including a majestic 158.
Van Gerwen is now competing in a seventh marquee event at Ally Pally, with only the great Phil Taylor doing more, and he will face either Luke Littler or Stephen Bunting on Friday night.
All the attention has been on the teenage sensation at this tournament, but the Dutchman looks awfully good and will be eager to get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy for a fourth time.
Playing in his ninth semi-final, it was familiar territory for the 35-year-old, as Dobey had expended a lot of emotional energy to beat Gerwyn Price in the quarter-final.
A six-minute opening set against the throw put Van Gerwen on the path to victory and when Dobey missed three darts to finish 40, he took a 2-0 lead.
Dobey made the “big fish” 170, then finished 108 to finally get on the board, but it was a fleeting moment of promise.
Van Gerwen managed to power through the rest of the match, twice threatening a nine-dart finish with a perfect six darts to start a leg, as he made his way back to the final.
Not that he’s counting his pools, with a direct response during his on-stage interview, where he said: “I’m in the final, I’ve already won everything, I have to be sure to make it in the final.”
“I am here with a mission, with a goal, there will always be ups and downs, today I showed maturity, even when I was not at my best I produced good things at the right times and that gives me confidence.
“Winning in the semi-final means a lot to me. What do I always say, we’re not even close yet, we’re still so far away.
“Tomorrow is another day. The title is still far away, that’s what I have to tell myself, I don’t want to make mistakes, I want to keep fighting.
