PDC World Darts Championship semi-finals: Dobey v Van Gerwen, Bunting v Littler – live

Dobey 1-3 Van Gerwen (fifth set, 0-2 in legs) Dobey again finds himself trying to keep Van Gerwen in his sights, but a half-chance from 124 is as close as he can get here. MvG has time to miss two doubles and still hold in 17 darts.

Dobey 1-3 Van Gerwen (fifth set, 0-1 in legs) Both players ease off the gas slightly at the start of this set, but Dobey misses a couple more doubles to hold, and Van Gerwen takes care of D14 to break.

Van Gerwen wins the fourth set, leads 3-1

Dobey 1-2 Van Gerwen (fourth set, 0-2 in legs) Van Gerwen has dipped slightly, but here’s a statement of intent – back-to-back 180s, and a shot at a nine-darter! It goes awry, but he pins D16 to do it in 10 darts, and take charge of the fourth set.

Dobey 1-2 Van Gerwen (fourth set, 0-1 in legs) Van Gerwen to throw first in this set, and there’s no break, so we’re straight back at it. Undeterred by a third dart lodging between the other two, he takes out double tops in rapid fashion.

Chris Dobey wins the third set, trails 2-1

Dobey 0-2 Van Gerwen (third set, 2-0 in legs) Dobey reels in the big fish! On Van Gerwen’s throw, both players end up on 170. Dobey is the best on the tour at taking out the maximum checkout – and he does it here. T20, T20, bull. Job done.

Dobey 0-2 Van Gerwen (third set, 1-0 in legs) That was a brutal way to lose the set for Chris Dobey. He’s averaged just over 100 so far, and is two sets down. Can he bounce back quickly? He’s helped by Van Gerwen missing a double, but then misses tops. Double eight for MvG … but he busts on D16. At the third time of asking, Dobey finds double 10 to hold!

Van Gerwen grabs the second set!

Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (second set, 2-2 in legs) Can Dobey hold here and force a deciding leg? Some tidy treble 18s keep him ahead, and he nails S16 D16 to level up the second set.

Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (second set, 1-2 in legs) A superb set-up of 139 takes Van Gerwen down to 40, and Dobey needs to take out 126 … he’s close, but misses the bull, and MvG does not miss tops.

Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (second set, 1-1 in legs) MvG goes for the bull to set up a finish but misses, opening the door for Dobey. A weak set-up shot lets him down, too, and Van Gerwen breaks back.

Second set: Dobey 0-1 Van Gerwen (legs 1-0) An opening here for Dobey on MvG’s throw – he misses double 16 but his opponent is still not on a finish. Van Gerwen gets down to 100, but Dobey nails the double for a 13-dart leg!

Dobey had the throw in the first set, and Van Gerwen knew that first leg was a perfect time to strike. Now, he just has to hold throw and he can carve out a handy 2-0 lead …

Van Gerwen takes the first set 3-1

First set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 1-2) Dobey will be keen to get on the board, and a first 180 helps his cause. He misses double eight but Van Gerwen is adrift, and Dobey takes it at the second time of asking.

First set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 0-2) Van Gerwen takes out 100 to hold with an 11-dart leg, and Dobey is on the back foot almost immediately.

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 is showing this for free!”

First set: Dobey 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 0-1) Dobey to throw first, and Van Gerwen is straight in with a max, then a 140. No messing, although he misses bull for a 12-darter. Dobey gets a shot at tops, but misses – and MvG hits double eight to break!

A worrying development for viewers outside the UK, from Chris Langford: “For those of us outside of the UK, we are having to watch this on the (paid for) PDC website, and of course, its totally crashed – so will be replying on your commentary for now!”

Here come the players …

Some pre-match chat from both players backstage:

Chris Dobey: “It’s an amazing feeling, big achievement and big step in my career. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and I’m quite confident going into tonight.”

Michael van Gerwen: “Long way to go, but I’m feeling good, and that’s the most important thing. I had to find something extra (against Callan Rydz) and I did. I have to concentrate on my own game, but let’s see what happens.”

Here we go, then. The Ally Pally is packed to the rafters, and the first walk-ons are moments away. Any predictions? I’m going Dobey 2-6 Van Gerwen, although in a contest closer than that scoreline suggests …

Our first semi-final gets under way in about 20 minutes’ time. Here’s Jonathan Liew on whether the Ally Pally is still big enough for the sport’s showpiece event…

Profile: Michael van Gerwen

Nickname: Mighty Mike/MvG
World ranking: No 3
Home town: Vlijmen, Netherlands
Major titles: 48 and counting
PDC worlds best: Winner 2014, 2017 and 2019
Walk-on music: Seven Nation Army

A decade ago, Van Gerwen was in Luke Littler’s position; the heir apparent to Phil Taylor’s throne who seemed capable of lifting the world title year after year. The fact he has only won three Ally Pally crowns feels almost disappointing; Van Gerwen has occasionally misplaced his ruthless streak here, losing as many finals as he has won.

That said, even Littler would struggle to keep up with the flying Dutchman at his absolute best. Also, Van Gerwen is still only 35, and has time to reach a world title haul more fitting his quality, much like Ronnie O’Sullivan has done in snooker. The way MvG held off the electric form of Callan Rydz in the last eight bodes well for his chances.

Road to semi-finals: R2 beat James Hurrell 3-0, R3 bt Brendan Dolan 4-2, R4 bt Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2, QF bt Callan Rydz 5-3.

Profile: Chris Dobey

Nickname: Hollywood
World ranking: No 15
Home town: Bedlington
Major titles: Masters 2023
PDC worlds best: Semis 2025
Walk-on music: Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble

Much like in men’s tennis, Dobey is part of a ‘Next Gen’ group whose gradual rise through the darting world has been overshadowed by Littler’s rapid ascent. The 34-year-old is due to crack the world’s top 10 next year, reward for reaching his first semi-finals here, having lost 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 in his first Premier League campaign in the same year. Like his football team, Newcastle, Dobey remains determined to break into the elite one day.

Road to semi-finals: R2 beat Alexander Merkx 3-1, R3 bt Josh Rock 4-2, R4 bt Kevin Doets 4-3, QF bt Gerwyn Price 5-3.

Will we see a nine-darter tonight? There have been two already at this year’s tournament, but both players to deliver one – Christian Kist and Damon Heta – went on to lose the match.

Preamble