World Darts semi-finals: Leg-by-leg reports and highlights from Peter Wright 6-3 Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Nathan Aspinall

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• Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
• Peter Wright 6-3 Gerwyn Price
• Final: Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
  New Year's Day, 7pm, (Best of 13 sets)

Michael van Gerwen to play Peter Wright in the World Championship final

So it'll be a repeat of the 2014 final between Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright on New Year's Day after the defending champion sluggishly battles past Nathan Aspinall 6-3 at the Ally Pally.

It was far from a vintage night of semi-final action, with both Aspinall and Price left to rue their wasteful finishing against their opponents who were also well below their bests and vocally disappointed with their respective performances.

Van Gerwen will hold no fears about facing Snakebite having beaten him in all nine of their major televised finals and will start as odds-on favourite - but on tonight's evidence he does look vulnerable.

Wright, who has lost 12 of his previous 13 major TV finals, was the best player on the night and maybe it's finally time to land the biggest title of them all.

SET ONE SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-2 Aspinall
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 1-0 Aspinall (Best of 11 sets)

• Leg Five
  Agonising drama for the UK Open champion at the end of the set as he spurns a dart at double six to complete a 70 checkout after MVG missed two attempts at double 16 - and there's no reprieve when the Dutchman returns to the oche.
  MVG 3-2 Aspinall
• Leg Four
  We're going all the way in the opening set as MVG raises his levels to fire in three big 100+ visits before finishing from 36 for a 13-darter.
  MVG 2-2 Aspinall
• Leg Three
  A third successive 15-dart hold at the start of the match although this time Aspinall had to take out 76 knowing that van Gerwen was waiting on a very manageable 94.
  MVG 1-2 Aspinall
• Leg Two
  Van Gerwen levels it up with a 15-dart hold of his own and was also put under no pressure as Aspinall could only get down to 217.
  MVG 1-1 Aspinall
• Leg One, Aspinall to throw first
  A nerveless start from Nathan Aspinall in his first televised meeting with MVG and he takes out 65 for a 15-darter, with his opponent way back on 206.
  MVG 0-1 Aspinall

2120: The players are out on the oche, so let's resume the action...

2115: By contrast, Nathan Aspinall's journey to reach his second successive semi-final couldn't have been much tougher...

• Rd 1: 3-1 v Danny Baggish (Av: 95.38, 180s: 5, Doubles: 10/26)
• Rd 2: 4-3 v Krzysztof Ratajski (Av: 98.45, 180s: 8, Doubles: 18/42)
• Rd 3: 4-2 v Gary Anderson (Av: 97.97, 180s: 11, Doubles: 16/40)
• Rd 4: 5-3 v Dimitri Van den Bergh (Av: 95.31, 180s: 11, Doubles: 18/49)

The Asp overcame a nervy start against Danny Baggish before blowing a 3-1 lead to beat the dangerous Krzysztof Ratajski in a tense final-set decider.

Aspinall produced what he described as the performance of his life - despite winning the UK Open and US Darts Masters in a stardom reaching 2019 - by defeating two-time champion Gary Anderson and then resisted a plucky comeback from Dimitri Van den Bergh.

He's had to show a mix of quality and battling spirit to get this far once again and he'll have to repeat the trick - and more - to stand a chance of avoiding just his second ever Ally Pally defeat.

2112: Here's how Michael van Gerwen reached the semi-finals in supreme fashion

• Rd 1: 3-1 v Jelle Klaasen (Av: 96.28, 180s: 1, Doubles: 11/25)
• Rd 2: 4-0 v Ricky Evans (Av: 96.75, 180s: 10, Doubles: 12/28)
• Rd 3: 4-0 v Stephen Bunting (Av: 104.09, 180s: 7, Doubles: 12/25)
• Rd 4: 5-2 v Darius Labanauskas (Av: 99.5, 180s: 6, Doubles: 18/40)

In case you've forgotten as it feels a lifetime ago now, Michael van Gerwen threw the first of the tournament's eight 170 checkouts on opening night and that's about as dramatic as it's got for him.

SET ONE SCORE: Wright 3-2 Price
MATCH SCORE: Wright 1-0 Price (Best of 11 sets)

• Leg Five
  Wright takes the box seat by taking the first set against the throw, following up visits of 100 and 140 with his second maximum before finishing the job with an 81 checkout for an 11-darter. Superb stuff and the crowd are loving it.
  Wright 3-2 Price
• Leg Four
  We're going all the way to a decider in this opening set as Snakebite holds his throw in a jittery leg, which he wins in 18 darts thanks to a 68 checkout, with Price back on 131.
  Wright 2-2 Price
• Leg Three
  Price lets out a customary huge roar when firing in the tournament's 800th maximum and he follows that with a visit of 177 to leave 44, which he takes out on double 10 for a 12-darter.
  Wright 1-2 Price
• Leg Two
  Snakebite quickly finds his rhythm in the second leg as he follows up back-to-back 140s with the first 180 of the match before taking out 41 for a 12-darter.
  Wright 1-1 Price
• Leg One, Price to throw first
  It's a sloppy start from both players to this semi-final, with Gerwyn Price eventually holding throw in 21 darts but only after he'd missed four attempts at doubles and Wright had spurned a shot at two fives to pinch it.
  Wright 0-1 Price

1915: The crowd are unsurprisingly on Peter Wright's side as both players make their way to the oche - but the pantomime boos for Gerwyn Price will, as usual, subside when he gets his A-game in gear! Let the drama commence...

1900: Right, I'll leave you to digest all the information below and I'll be back in time for the player entrances to bring you leg-by-leg updates and highlights.

1850: Now here's how Van Gerwen and Aspinall's stats compare before I give you my prediction.

Tournament stats (MVG first)

• Average: 98.99 - 96.87
• Best Ave: 104.09 (v Bunting) - 98.45 (v Ratajski)
• 180s: 24 - 35
• 100+ checkouts: 8 - 5
• Highest checkout: 170 - 122
• Doubles: 53/118 (44.92%) - 62/157 (39.49%)
• Legs won/lost: 53/29 - 62/50

In my semi-final preview, I've stuck with my pre-tournament 40/1 tip Nathan Aspinall to seal profits - and I really believe there's been enough evidence to suggest it's more than possible. And if it sets up a final with Price, then that will bring up a 50/1 'name the finalists' tip too! If you aren't convinced, how about backing him at 7/4 on the handicap with a 2.5 set start? Another option would be 11/4 on the match to have over 34.5 legs, a high checkout of over 141.5 and more than 20.5 total 180s.

1845: By contrast, Nathan Aspinall's journey to reach his second successive semi-final couldn't have been much tougher...

• Rd 1: 3-1 v Danny Baggish (Av: 95.38, 180s: 5, Doubles: 10/26)
• Rd 2: 4-3 v Krzysztof Ratajski (Av: 98.45, 180s: 8, Doubles: 18/42)
• Rd 3: 4-2 v Gary Anderson (Av: 97.97, 180s: 11, Doubles: 16/40)
• Rd 4: 5-3 v Dimitri Van den Bergh (Av: 95.31, 180s: 11, Doubles: 18/49)

The Asp overcame a nervy start against Danny Baggish before blowing a 3-1 lead to beat the dangerous Krzysztof Ratajski in a tense final-set decider.

Aspinall produced what he described as the performance of his life - despite winning the UK Open and US Darts Masters in a stardom reaching 2019 - by defeating two-time champion Gary Anderson and then resisted a plucky comeback from Dimitri Van den Bergh.

He's had to show a mix of quality and battling spirit to get this far once again and he'll have to repeat the trick - and more - to stand a chance of avoiding just his second ever Ally Pally defeat.

1840: Here's how Michael van Gerwen reached the semi-finals in supreme fashion

• Rd 1: 3-1 v Jelle Klaasen (Av: 96.28, 180s: 1, Doubles: 11/25)
• Rd 2: 4-0 v Ricky Evans (Av: 96.75, 180s: 10, Doubles: 12/28)
• Rd 3: 4-0 v Stephen Bunting (Av: 104.09, 180s: 7, Doubles: 12/25)
• Rd 4: 5-2 v Darius Labanauskas (Av: 99.5, 180s: 6, Doubles: 18/40)

In case you've forgotten as it feels a lifetime ago now, Michael van Gerwen threw the first of the tournament's eight 170 checkouts on opening night and that's about as dramatic as it's got for him.

After losing the opening set against Jelle Klaasen, he won 11 on the trot before the dogged Darius Labanauskas gave him some cause for frustration but overall, he's hardly broken sweat and will be ready to peak at just the right time.

1835: Just in case there's not enough time between matches to run through the second semi-final, I'll do it now, starting with the head-to-head records.

• Head-to-head (MVG first)
  Overall: 2-2 (TV: 0-0)
  2019 Meetings: 1-2 (TV: 0-0)
  Career PDC titles: 133-3 (TV: 53-2)
  Titles this season: 14-2 (TV: 8-2)

Nathan Aspinall is one of the few players Michael van Gerwen hasn't beaten more times than he's lost - although none of their previous four meetings have been over a format longer than best of 11 legs, let alone sets!

That's taking nothing away from the Asp, who has won two of their three matches in 2019 including a 6-1 hammering back in February and their most recent on a stage environment in Gibraltar, edging it 6-3.

It'll be fascinating to see how he can cope with MVG's firepower in a long set play format, but he does have the battling qualities to pinch some 3-2 even if he loses others 3-0. It could be one of those games where he loses most legs but wins the match!

1830: To wrap up our look ahead to the first semi-final, here's their tournament statistics at a glance as well as my prediction.

Tournament stats (Wright first)

• Average: 98.25 - 96.18
• Best Ave: 105.86 (v Humphries) - 104.2 (v Henderson)
• 180s: 41 - 21
• 100+ checkouts: 13 - 5
• Highest checkout: 170 - 136
• Doubles: 69/144 (47.92%) - 52/118 (44.07%)
• Legs won/lost: 69/52 - 52/35

In my semi-final preview I've gone for a 6-4 victory in favour of Price while I picked out three bets that have caught my eye. Wright to hit three or more 100+ checkouts at 7/4, Price to win and hit 12+ 180s at 5/2 and the match to have over 38.5 legs, a high checkout of over 141.5 and more than 22 maximums at 3/1.

1825: Here's Gerwyn Price's route to the semi-finals and it's fair to say he's blown hot and cold...

• Rd 2: 3-2 v William O'Connor (Av: 90.98, 180s: 3, Doubles: 12/26)
• Rd 3: 4-0 v John Henderson (Av: 104.2, 180s: 7, Doubles: 12/27)
• Rd 4: 4-2 v Simon Whitlock (Av: 92.47, 180s: 3, Doubles: 12/32)
• Rd 5: 5-1 v Glen Durrant (Av: 99.69, 180s: 8, Doubles: 16/34)

Like Wright, the Iceman should possibly have crashed out at the first hurdle but he was let off the hook by William O'Connor inexplicably forgetting what double he was aiming at in a deciding fifth set.

Price made the most of his fortune to edge it and since then there's been no such problems with three comfortable victories, including two very polished performances against John Henderson and Glen Durrant either side of a ropey one against Simon Whitlock.

We've seen the Welshman save his best for the business end of tournaments so expect him to raise his game another level tonight.

1820: Time for those routes to the semi-finals and we'll begin with Peter Wright.

• Rd 2: 3-2 v Noel Malicdem (Av: 96.53, 180s: 9, Doubles: 16/33)
• Rd 3: 4-2 v Seigo Asada (Av: 94.42, 180s: 8, Doubles: 16/37)
• Rd 4: 4-3 v Jeffrey de Zwaan (Av: 96.39, 180s: 12, Doubles: 19/37)
• QF: 5-3 v Luke Humphries (Av: 105.86, 180s: 12, Doubles: 18/37)

If Peter Wright goes on to win this title, he'll no doubt point to his remarkable recovery against Noel Malicdem in his first match that made it all possible.

Starring defeat in the face he needed to take out 302 in six darts and completed the job with a stunning 140 checkout with his opponent waiting on 42 for the match.

Fate? Destiny? Sporting Gods? Who knows, but he's had to make the most of that brilliance - not least in the remainder of that game - to get this far.

He was absolutely fantastic with a PB world championship average of 105.86 against Luke Humphries and threw four more 100+ checkouts, including a 170 and a 161, to take his tally to 13 for the tournament - more than anyone else.

1815: The first of tonight's semi-finals, which are both best of 11 sets, is Peter Wright v Gerwyn Price so let's start by looking at the head-to-head record.

• Head-to-head (Wright first)
  Overall: 13-5, 1 draw (TV: 5-4, 1 draw)
  2019 Meetings: 1-3 (TV: 1-3)
  Career PDC titles: 27-9 (TV: 5-2)
  Titles this season: 4-5 (TV: 1-1)

The stats suggest the friendly rivalry, which began on this very stage in 2014 when Snakebite thrashed Price 3-0 en route to the 2014 final, is rather lopsided but obviously the majority of their battles came when the Welshman was climbing his way up the rankings.

Wright also defeated the former rugby player to win his first major title at the 2017 UK Open and by the start of last winter, he'd only lost once in 14 meetings - as well as a Premier League draw.

Since then it's been a different story with Price winning four of the next five, including a demolition job in the Grand Slam of Darts final.

1800: Good evening and welcome to what promises to be a memorable evening of the highest quality darts from four of the very best players in the world, who have risen to the top after a tournament of high drama and shocks.

Defending champion Michael van Gerwen obviously remains hot favourite to get his hands on the Sid Waddell trophy for the fourth time on New Year's Day but rising star Nathan Aspinall will be a genuine threat in his second successive World Championship semi-final.

Before then, Gerwyn Price is fancied to get the better of Peter Wright and do his bit in setting up a potential 'dream final' with MVG that was just 3/1 before a dart was even thrown in this tournament.

The 'big two' have been the standout performers on the circuit over the past six months especially and have built up quite a rivalry with a number of blockbusting battles that tend to go to the wire - although the Iceman's sole victory is 'that' Grand Slam of Darts semi-final, which he followed up by thrashing Snakebite.

In the coming updates we'll be going through every player's route to the finals and tournament statistics, as well as the head-to-head records.

But in the meantime here are tonight's match odds and their prices to life the trophy...

• Peter Wright (5/4) v Gerwyn Price (8/13)
• Michael van Gerwen (1/8) v Nathan Aspinall (5/1)

Title odds

• MVG - 8/13
• Price - 3/1
• Wright - 13/2
• Aspinall - 14/1

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