The World Darts Championship semifinals are finally here as four players become two after tonight’s action with the winners making it into the sport’s showpiece event of the year tomorrow evening and a shot at lifting the Sid Waddell trophy..
In tonight’s second match, Michael van Gerwen, hot in his quest to reclaim his spot as world No.1, goes up against Dimitri van den Bergh, who became the first Belgian to reach the semifinals after seeing off Jonny Clayton in the quarters.
Michael Smith has already booked a place in Tuesday night’s final after an entertaining 6-2 victory over Gabriel Clemens in the opening semifinal.
The Sporting News is on hand to bring you live updates of both semifinals at Alexandra Palace this evening.
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Dimitri Van Den Bergh vs. Michael van Gerwen live score
| Sets | Leg | Final | |
| Van den Bergh | 0 | 0 | |
| Van Gerwen | 4 | 1 |
World Darts Championship live updates, highlights as Dimitri Van den Bergh faces Michael van Gerwen
All times GMT
10:20pm: Van Gerwen BREAKS again (Van den Bergh 0-4 Van Gerwen)
Van den Bergh stopped the rot in set four with the opening leg and took the set to a deciding leg after nailing a 121 on the bull in the fourth. However, he missed two darts at double tops to open his set account and Van Gerwen – at the sixth time of asking in the leg – goes 4-0 up.
THE BIG FISH… AGAIN! 🎣
For the second time in three sets, a 170 finish is reeled in!
MvG pins the bull for a 170 checkout and he wins a seventh straight leg…#WCDarts | SF
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/XmAxtSMOla— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2023
10:10pm: Van Gerwen wins set three (Van den Bergh 0-3 Van Gerwen)
Stop that, Michael van Gerwen! The Dutchman averages 128.83 to win set three, 3-0. He has taken eight legs in a row. MVG is flying.
10:08pm: OH MY. WHAT SCENES! After another exchange of words on the stage, MVG pops a 170 checkout to copy Van den Bergh’s feat in set one!
10:05pm: Oooooo. The players have an exchange mid-leg in the opener of set three. Was Van Gerwen in the red exclusion zone?
9:59pm: Van Gerwen DOUBLES his lead (Van den Bergh 0-2 Van Gerwen)
Mighty Mike is already looking in ominous form as he claims the second set against the throw, 3-0, to go 2-0 up in sets.
Can Van den Bergh get back into this before three-time winner MVG runs away?
THE BIG FISH! 🤩🎣
A fifth 170 checkout of the tournament as Dimitri Van den Bergh pins the bull for the biggest finish of the lot and he leads in the opening set!#WCDarts | SF
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/EQ3VBe8S8T— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2023
9:48pm: MVG WINS the opening set (Van den Bergh 0-1 Van Gerwen)
Don’t make him angry! Van Gerwen responds to that 170 out from his opponent by breaking in the next leg, and then holding to take the first set, 3-2. Bubbling up nicely, this!
9.45pm: Dimitri Van den Bergh hits a 170 checkout in leg three of the opening set to break MVG. WOW!
9:37pm: Here we go then, straight into our second semifinal – it’s Dimitri Van den Bergh and Michael van Gerwen! Who will meet Michael Smith in tomorrow’s final? Van Gerwen will throw first in set one.
STAT ATTACK – Gabriel Clemens v Michael Smith
180s: Clemens: 11, Smith: 19
Highest Checkout: Clemens: 91, Smith: 161
Averages: Clemens: 96.98, Smith: 101.85
9:20pm: MICHAEL SMITH IS IN THE FINAL (Result: Clemens 2-6 Smith)
Michael Smith wins set eight, 3-1, to defeat Gabriel Clemens in this fantastic semi-final!
The 32-year-old world number four will appear in his third world championship final tomorrow night at the Ally Pally. Will the third time be a charm for the Englishman?
9:09pm: Smith one set away from the final (Clemens 2-5 Smith)
Michael Smith is really in the groove and in control now! The Bully Boy went 2-0 ahead in set seven, and although a valliant Clemens battled back to take it to a deciding leg, Smith nailed double eight to stand on the cusp of a third world final appearance.
WHAT A DART THAT IS!
This match is simply sublime…
Bully Boy pins the bull to open up a two set advantage!#WCDarts | SF
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/PYoHcDJ2ke— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2023
9.00pm: Smith BREAKS to go two sets clear (Clemens 2-4 Smith)
BIG MOMENTS! A crucial juncture in the match? It looked like Clemens was going to win the set but missed a set dart in leg four. Smith took it to a decider, and then pinned 83 on the bull in the deciding leg against the throw to go 4-2 up.
8:46pm: Whitewash set for Smith (Clemens 2-3 Smith)
Smith goes ahead in sets for the third time with a comfortable 3-0 fifth set victory. The Englishman broke Clemens in leg two with a 100 checkout. A fantastic match, we’ve already seen 21 180s!
OH MY WORD! 🤯
Michael Smith pins the bull for a gargantuan 161 checkout and the roof has been raised here at Ally Pally!#WCDarts | SF
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/x9DprI6b4t— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2023
8:38pm: Clemens levels up again (Clemens 2-2 Smith)
Another set that sees all five legs played! 20 possible legs available in this match so far, and 20 played.
All legs went with throw again, and it was Clemens that held on in the decider.
8.31pm: Smith hits a 161 checkout on the bullseye in leg two of the fourth set. The highest out of the match so far, it was Smith’s third ton-plus checkout of the encounter.
8:28pm: Smith goes back in front (Clemens 1-2 Smith)
Another entertaining set that went all the way on throw! After missing two set darts in leg four, Smith – who hit a 144 checkout in leg three – survived a set dart from Clemens in the decider to go 2-1 up.
LEVEL GAME!
Smith is averaging just shy of 110 here still, but Clemens ties proceedings at one set apiece!
The Ally Pally crowd are LOVING this 🔥#WCDarts | SF
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/oggFAcfkoX— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2023
8.13pm: Clemens LEVELS the match in sets (Clemens 1-1 Smith)
A dramatic second set here at the Ally Pally! Smith continued his sizzling start by winning the opening two legs in just 22 darts, but German number one Clemens battled back, taking the next three to level the contest 1-1 in sets.
Smith – who hit another three 180s during the set – missed four set darts.
8.01pm: Smith WINS the opening set (Clemens 0-1 Smith)
A brilliant opening set of the match, which saw six 180s and every leg go with throw. Under pressure in the deciding leg, Smith checked out with a 106 to take an early advantage.
7.54pm: Smith hits a 180 as he holds throw in the opening leg.
7:50pm: The players have made their walk-ons and thrown their practice darts. Michael Smith will throw first in the opening set.
Two HUGE semi-finals coming tonight…
Who will be our two finalists? #WCDarts | SF
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/2zCa58jqRV— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2023
7.20pm: Michael Smith is aiming to reach the PDC World Championship final for a third time this evening after defeats in the title match in 2019 (to Van Gerwen) and 2022 (to Peter Wright).
This time, though, Englishman Smith comes to the Ally Pally as a major champion after winning the Grand Slam in November.
7.05pm: Gabriel Clemens is the first German player in history to reach this stage of the tournament.
The 39-year-old defeated William O’Connor 3-0 in his opening tie before surviving a match dart as he ousted Jim Williams 4-3 in the last 32.
‘Gaga’ has since dropped just two sets as he eliminated Alan Soutar 4-1 and then sensationally dumped out world number one Gerwyn Price last night, 5-1.
6.45pm: Four players from four different nations remain in the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship as we look forward to this evening’s semi-final showdowns with action starting in 55 minutes time.
Only one of those four, though, know what it’s like to become the world champion – three-time winner Michael van Gerwen who started the event as tournament favourite and has so far lived up to expectations.
The Netherlands’ Van Gerwen faces maiden semi-finalist Dimitri Van den Bergh from Belgium in the second match, but first up is reigning Grand Slam champion Michael Smith against the surprise package, Germany’s Gabriel Clemens.
6.25pm: If you do need a quick recap of last night’s extraordinary quarterfinals then here goes. First we saw Gabriel Clemens dump out Gerwyn Price 5-1 with the latter making plenty of headlines. In a bid to combat the boos from the crowd, the Welshman donned a pair of headphones in order to block out the noise in scenes never seen on the oche before! He then took to Instagram after the match to claim he may never player the Worlds again…
The Silence of the Fans… 🎧 pic.twitter.com/zkXmTYuqBx
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2023
Following that drama, Van Gerwen sent a warning to his fellow competitors by whitewashing Chris Dobey 5-0. We’re hoping for more of the same drama this evening!
90 mins until play begins: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the World Darts Championships. It’s semifinal night and if last night’s action is anything to go by we’re in for a real treat. Let’s get going!
T H E F I N A L F O U R 🔢 pic.twitter.com/LbYGqWv14U
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2023
MORE: World Darts Championship 2022/23 draw, schedule, results, seeded players
World Darts Championship TV channel, live stream
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | New Zealand | |
| Time | 12:30 / 19:00 GMT | 07:30 / 14:00 ET | 07:30 / 14:00 ET | 23:00 / 18:00 AEST | 01:00 / 20:00 NZDT |
| TV channel | Sky Sports Darts | — | — | Fox Sports | Sky Sport |
| Streaming | Sky Go app | DAZN | DAZN | Foxtel/Kayo | Sky Sport |
*Table above indicates afternoon and evening session start times
Viewers can also log in to subscription service PDCTV to watch the action throughout the Championship (excluding UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland based subscribers).
