Paddy Power World Darts Championship – Quarter finals (1st Jan)
LITTLER, VAN GERWEN, BUNTING & DOBEY SEAL SEMI-FINAL SPOTS AT ALLY PALLY
Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey booked their spots in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship semi-finals on a thrilling day of action on Wednesday.
The opening day of darting action in 2025 saw the quarter-finals take place across a bumper double session on New Year’s Day, as the quest to lift the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy continues.
Van Gerwen is the only former champion left standing at Ally Pally, after he celebrated an exhilarating win over Callan Rydz in a contest which featured 31 maximums.
Rydz won 18 legs to Van Gerwen’s 17 in a contest littered with quality, although the Dutchman delivered at the crucial moments to establish a 4-2 cushion.
Rydz won through a sensational seventh set to preserve his hopes, yet he was left to rue two missed set darts in a dramatic finale, as Van Gerwen nailed double eight to come through a thriller.
“Callan put me under a lot of pressure. It was probably one of the most difficult moments of my year,” conceded Van Gerwen, who averaged 103.1 to Rydz’ 103.88.
“I think I am in a good place, otherwise you can’t produce what I did this afternoon. It gives me goosebumps."
Van Gerwen’s reward is a last four showdown against Dobey, who recorded a milestone 5-3 victory over Gerwyn Price in Wednesday’s opening tussle.
Tournament favourite Littler reaffirmed his credentials with a dominant 5-2 victory over Nathan Aspinall, posting his eighth ton-plus average on the Alexandra Palace stage in the process.
Littler averaged 111 to storm to the opening two sets, and although Aspinall halved the deficit with a spirited third set rearguard, the 17-year-old responded with another barrage to lead 4-1.
Two-time semi-finalist Aspinall refused to relent and doubled his tally to take the sixth set, only for Littler to close out victory with a 101 average and 15 maximums to his name.
“It’s an amazing feeling to reach another semi-final and start 2025 with a win,” claimed Littler, who will go head-to-head with Bunting for a place in Friday’s final.
Elsewhere on day 14:
- Chris Dobey was featuring in his third consecutive World Championship quarter-final, with a Price, winning five of the last six sets to break new ground.
- Stephen Bunting ran out a convincing 5-2 winner against two-time World Champion Peter Wright to book his spot in a second World Championship semi-final.
Day 14 Highlights:
Afternoon Session
- Chris Dobey 5-3 Gerwyn Price (2-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 3-0, 2-3, 3-1)
- Michael van Gerwen 5-3 Callan Rydz (3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2)
Evening Session:
- Stephen Bunting 5-2 Peter Wright (3-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-0, 0-3, 1-3, 3-0)
- Luke Littler 5-2 Nathan Aspinall (3-0, 3-1, 2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)
