PDC Order of Merit following the 2022/23 World Darts Championship
Michael Smith has become the new PDC world number one after claiming World Championship glory for the first time.
Smith realised his darting dream by lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday courtesy of a 7-4 victory over Michael van Gerwen in the final.
The St Helens star produced an historic nine-darter en route to the title, having seen Van Gerwen miss double 12 for a nine-darter of his own in the same leg.
The triumph came just months after Bully Boy had landed his first major title at the Grand Slam, ending a run of eight consecutive defeats in televised finals.
Smith scooped £500,000 in prize money to storm into the world number one spot, leapfrogging Van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price.
In doing so, he becomes the 12th different world number one in PDC history and the first Englishman to top the rankings since Phil Taylor in 2014.
Price’s shock Quarter-Final exit at the hands of Gabriel Clemens sees him drop to fourth, having won the title two years ago, while last year’s champion Wright trails Smith by around £100,000 in second spot.
A third defeat in a World Championship final for Van Gerwen sees him end the season in third position, despite picking up the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals titles.
Meanwhile, Dimitri Van den Bergh’s superb run to the Semi-Finals sees him climb four places to 11th, while Jose de Sousa rises three places to 14th after reaching the Last 16.
Clemens’ ground-breaking run to the Semi-Finals, becoming the first German in PDC history to do so, sees him storm six places to 19th and in contention for a Premier League spot this year.
James Wade’s shock Second Round exit means he drops two places to tenth, while Dave Chisnall tumbles six places to 18th, having made the Semi-Finals two years ago.
Gary Anderson, World Championship runner-up in 2021, plummets eleven places to 22nd – his lowest end of season ranking since 2010 – following a Third Round defeat to Chris Dobey.
World Cup winner Damon Heta ends the season inside the world’s top 16 for the first time, with European Champion Ross Smith rising two places to 17th and just £7,000 adrift of the Aussie.
Stephen Bunting falls three places to 24th despite his impressive run to the Quarter-Finals, having reached the semis two years ago, but will occupy the 24th and final spot in The Masters later this month.
Daryl Gurney and Vincent van der Voort drop two places to 26th and 30th respectively, while Raymond van Barneveld ends the season in 29th after notably reaching the Semi-Finals of the Grand Slam.
Alan Soutar’s run to the Last 16 for the second successive year at Ally Pally sees him end the campaign inside the world’s top 32 for the first time.
Mensur Suljovic drops out of the top 32 despite a terrific showing against MVG in the Third Round, while 2010 runner-up Simon Whitlock also drops three places to 38th.
Josh Rock’s astonishing debut season as a Tour Card holder ends with the 21-year-old ranked world number 36, having reached the Last 16 at Ally Pally, as well as winning a ProTour event and making the Last 16 of the Grand Slam.
Andrew Gilding climbs five places to 41st, with Martijn Kleermaker up four places to 40th and Ryan Meikle and Ritchie Edhouse also up three places apiece.
Ian White’s failure to qualify for the World Championship means he drops a further five places to 43rd, with Ryan Joyce down four places to 44th and Jermaine Wattimena sinking eight places to 47th.
Ricky Evans, who defeated Fallon Sherrock before losing out to Joe Cullen, drops six places to 48th, while German ace Florian Hempel surges ten places to 50th.
Challenge Tour star Scott Williams, who picked up a Players Championship title in 2022 despite not holding a Tour Card, ends the year in 57th after losing out to Rob Cross in a high quality Second Round contest.
Devon Petersen, who failed to secure a spot in the sport’s show-piece, tumbles 15 places to 58th and will be battling to retain his Tour Card this coming season.
Jim Williams enjoyed a fine run to the Last 32 and subsequently climbs 18 places to 59th, followed by fellow Welsh star Lewy Williams – who rises ten places to 60th.
Czech youngster Adam Gawlas is up 11 places to 62nd, with Ron Meulenkamp and Keegan dropping out of the Tour Card places.
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PDC Order of Merit following the 2022/23 World Darts Championship
| Position | Name | Prize Money |
| 1 | Michael Smith | £1,243,500 |
| 2 | Peter Wright | £1,144,500 |
| 3 | Michael van Gerwen | £1,050,750 |
| 4 | Gerwyn Price | £726,750 |
| 5 | Luke Humphries | £526,000 |
| 6 | Rob Cross | £512,000 |
| 7 | Jonny Clayton | £482,750 |
| 8 | Danny Noppert | £449,750 |
| 9 | Nathan Aspinall | £441,500 |
| 10 | James Wade | £440,000 |
| 11 | Dimitri Van den Bergh | £411,750 |
| 12 | Joe Cullen | £367,750 |
| 13 | Dirk van Duijvenbode | £350,250 |
| 14 | Jose de Sousa | £340,000 |
| 15 | Ryan Searle | £327,500 |
| 16 | Damon Heta | £311,250 |
| 17 | Ross Smith | £304,750 |
| 18 | Dave Chisnall | £294,000 |
| 19 | Gabriel Clemens | £286,250 |
| 20 | Krzysztof Ratajski | £281,750 |
| 21 | Chris Dobey | £274,000 |
| 22 | Gary Anderson | £235,750 |
| 23 | Callan Rydz | £233,500 |
| 24 | Stephen Bunting | £232,750 |
| 25 | Brendan Dolan | £219,750 |
| 26 | Daryl Gurney | £195,250 |
| 27 | Martin Schindler | £189,250 |
| 28 | Mervyn King | £174,250 |
| 29 | Raymond van Barneveld | £165,750 |
| 30 | Vincent van der Voort | £165,750 |
| 31 | Kim Huybrechts | £163,750 |
| 32 | Alan Soutar | £161,500 |
| 33 | Mensur Suljovic | £157,500 |
| 34 | Adrian Lewis | £139,750 |
| 35 | Madars Razma | £138,500 |
| 36 | Josh Rock | £129,000 |
| 37 | William O’Connor | £124,000 |
| 38 | Simon Whitlock | £123,500 |
| 39 | Martin Lukeman | £122,500 |
| 40 | Martijn Kleermaker | £119,000 |
| 41 | Andrew Gilding | £113,500 |
| 42 | Keane Barry | £110,500 |
| 43 | Ian White | £106,250 |
| 44 | Ryan Joyce | £104,250 |
| 45 | Ryan Meikle | £97,000 |
| 46 | Ritchie Edhouse | £96,750 |
| 47 | Jermaine Wattimena | £96,250 |
| 48 | Ricky Evans | £95,000 |
| 49 | Luke Woodhouse | £92,500 |
| 50 | Florian Hempel | £86,000 |
| 51 | Rowby-John Rodriguez | £82,750 |
| 52 | Darius Labanauskas | £82,250 |
| 53 | Mike De Decker | £80,500 |
| 54 | Boris Krcmar | £80,500 |
| 55 | Steve Beaton | £80,000 |
| 56 | Jamie Hughes | £75,000 |
| 57 | Scott Williams | £73,000 |
| 58 | Devon Petersen | £69,250 |
| 59 | Jim Williams | £68,250 |
| 60 | Lewy Williams | £67,000 |
| 61 | Steve Lennon | £65,000 |
| 62 | Adam Gawlas | £64,250 |
| 63 | Joe Murnan | £57,000 |
| 64 | Jeff Smith | £56,750 |
| 65 | Ron Meulenkamp | £56,750 |
| 66 | Keegan Brown | £56,250 |
| 67 | Maik Kuivenhoven | £54,250 |
| 68 | Karel Sedlacek | £51,500 |
| 69 | Niels Zonneveld | £51,000 |
| 70 | Scott Mitchell | £50,000 |
| 71 | William Borland | £49,500 |
| 72 | Geert Nentjes | £48,500 |
| 73 | Danny Jansen | £48,250 |
| 74 | Cameron Menzies | £47,750 |
| 75 | Matt Campbell | £47,750 |
| 76 | Nathan Rafferty | £45,750 |
| 77 | Mickey Mansell | £44,250 |
| 78 | Jason Lowe | £44,250 |
| 79 | Adam Hunt | £42,500 |
| 80 | Glen Durrant | £41,500 |
| 81 | Jason Heaver | £41,000 |
| 82 | Andy Boulton | £40,750 |
| 83 | John Henderson | £38,500 |
| 84 | Danny Baggish | £37,500 |
| 85 | John O’Shea | £36,500 |
| 86 | Jeffrey de Zwaan | £33,000 |
| 87 | Gordon Mathers | £31,750 |
| 88 | Boris Koltsov | £31,750 |
| 89 | Max Hopp | £31,250 |
| 90 | Scott Waites | £26,750 |
| 91 | Berry van Peer | £26,500 |
| 92 | Jimmy Hendriks | £26,000 |
| 93 | Danny van Trijp | £25,500 |
| 94 | Peter Hudson | £24,750 |
| 95 | Kevin Doets | £24,500 |
| 96 | Sebastian Bialecki | £24,000 |
| 97 | Steve West | £23,750 |
| 98 | Jose Justicia | £23,000 |
| 99 | Ricardo Pietreczko | £23,000 |
| 100 | Eddie Lovely | £22,250 |
| 101 | Richie Burnett | £22,000 |
| 102 | Ted Evetts | £22,000 |
| 103 | Gian van Veen | £22,000 |
| 104 | John Michael | £21,000 |
| 105 | Mario Vandenbogaerde | £20,250 |
| 106 | Leonard Gates | £20,000 |
| 107 | Connor Scutt | £19,500 |
| 108 | Jon Worsley | £19,000 |
| 109 | Geert De Vos | £19,000 |
| 110 | Krzysztof Kciuk | £18,000 |
| 111 | Brian Raman | £17,500 |
| 112 | Rusty-Jake Rodriguez | £17,250 |
| 113 | Wesley Plaisier | £16,750 |
| 114 | Radek Szaganski | £16,500 |
| 115 | Brett Claydon | £16,500 |
| 116 | Jack Main | £16,500 |
| 117 | Robert Owen | £15,500 |
| 118 | George Killington | £15,250 |
| 119 | David Cameron | £15,000 |
| 120 | Grant Sampson | £15,000 |
| 121 | Lourence Ilagan | £15,000 |
| 122 | James Wilson | £15,000 |
| 123 | Shaun Wilkinson | £14,750 |
| 124 | Daniel Larsson | £14,500 |
| 125 | Luc Peters | £13,000 |
| 126 | Lee Evans | £12,750 |
| 127 | Christian Perez | £12,500 |
| 128 | Fallon Sherrock | £12,500 |
| 129 | Lisa Ashton | £12,500 |
| 130 | Damian Mol | £12,250 |
| 131 | David Evans | £11,750 |
| 132 | Lukas Wenig | £11,750 |
| 133 | Tony Martinez | £11,250 |
| 134 | Bradley Brooks | £11,250 |
| 135 | Jamie Clark | £11,000 |
| 136 | Zoran Lerchbacher | £10,750 |
| 137 | Kevin Burness | £10,250 |
| 138 | John Brown | £10,250 |
| 139 | Ross Montgomery | £9,750 |
| 140 | Jake Jones | £9,250 |
| 141 | Stephen Burton | £9,250 |
| 142 | Jules van Dongen | £8,750 |
| 143 | Jelle Klaasen | £8,000 |
| 144 | Beau Greaves | £7,500 |
| 145 | Ben Robb | £7,500 |
| 146 | Diogo Portela | £7,500 |
| 147 | Mal Cuming | £7,500 |
| 148 | Nobuhiro Yamamoto | £7,500 |
| 149 | Paolo Nebrida | £7,500 |
| 150 | Prakash Jiwa | £7,500 |
| 151 | Raymond Smith | £7,500 |
| 152 | Toru Suzuki | £7,500 |
| 153 | Vladyslav Omelchenko | £7,500 |
| 154 | Xicheng Han | £7,500 |
| 155 | Nick Fullwell | £7,250 |
| 156 | Darren Webster | £6,500 |
| 157 | Kenny Neyens | £6,250 |
| 158 | Pete Burgoyne | £6,000 |
| 159 | Dragutin Horvat | £6,000 |
| 160 | Thibault Tricole | £5,250 |
| 161 | Dennis Nilsson | £5,000 |
| 162 | Matthew Edgar | £4,250 |
| 163 | Gary Blades | £4,250 |
| 164 | Michael Unterbuchner | £4,250 |
| 165 | Jim McEwan | £4,000 |
| 166 | Johan Engstrom | £4,000 |
| 167 | Niko Springer | £4,000 |
| 168 | Scott Marsh | £3,250 |
| 169 | Darren Penhall | £3,250 |
| 170 | Stefan Bellmont | £3,000 |
| 171 | Nico Kurz | £3,000 |
| 172 | David Pallett | £2,750 |
| 173 | Graham Hall | £2,750 |
| 174 | Steve Haggerty | £2,250 |
| 175 | Stu Wilson | £2,250 |
| 176 | Nathan Girvan | £2,000 |
| 177 | Craig Galliano | £2,000 |
| 178 | Marko Kantele | £2,000 |
| 179 | Vitezslav Sedlak | £2,000 |
| 180 | Patrik Gosnak | £2,000 |
| 181 | Vladimir Andersen | £2,000 |
| 182 | Fabian Schmutzler | £2,000 |
| 183 | Dan Read | £1,500 |
| 184 | Jim Moston | £1,500 |
| 185 | Colin Osborne | £1,500 |
| 186 | Owen Roelofs | £1,250 |
| 187 | Dylan Duo Jr | £1,000 |
| 188 | Dyson Parody | £1,000 |
| 189 | Manuel Vilerio | £1,000 |
| 190 | Sean Negrette | £1,000 |
| 191 | Andy Baetens | £1,000 |
| 192 | Francois Schweyen | £1,000 |
| 193 | Remo Mandiau | £1,000 |
| 194 | Roberto Vandaele | £1,000 |
| 195 | Wouter Vanrolleghem | £1,000 |
| 196 | Andras Borbely | £1,000 |
| 197 | Franz Roetzsch | £1,000 |
| 198 | Levente Sarai | £1,000 |
| 199 | Pal Szekely | £1,000 |
| 200 | Arjan Konterman | £1,000 |
| 201 | Rene Eidams | £1,000 |
| 202 | Dennie Olde Kalter | £1,000 |
| 203 | Filip Sebesta | £1,000 |
| 204 | Martijn Dragt | £1,000 |
| 205 | Miloslav Navratil | £1,000 |
| 206 | Ondrej Plsek | £1,000 |
| 207 | Dietmar Burger | £1,000 |
| 208 | Michael Rasztovits | £1,000 |
| 209 | Rainer Sturm | £1,000 |
| 210 | Thomas Junghans | £1,000 |
| 211 | Danny Lauby | £1,000 |
| 212 | David Schlichting | £1,000 |
| 213 | Janos Vegso | £1,000 |
| 214 | Ryan Harrington | £1,000 |
| 215 | Wayne Jones | £1,000 |
| 216 | Christian Kist | £750 |
| 217 | Jurjen van der Velde | £750 |
| 218 | Thomas Lovely | £750 |
| 219 | Jeremy van der Winkel | £750 |
| 220 | Gavin Carlin | £750 |
| 221 | Carlo van Peer | £750 |
| 222 | Jacques Labre | £750 |
| 223 | Leighton Bennett | £750 |
| 224 | Steven Noster | £750 |
Magnificent Michael Smith secures fairy-tale first World Championship title
Michael Smith fulfilled his darting destiny by becoming World Champion for the first time courtesy of a sensational 7-4 victory over Michael van Gerwen in the final at Alexandra Palace.
Smith, who picked up his maiden major title at the Grand Slam in November, doubled his tally by scooping the sport’s most prestigious prize with the aid of an incredible nine-darter.
The historic triumph sees Smith become the new world number one, denying Van Gerwen a fourth world title following an epic final.
From 3-2 down, Smith produced a devastating burst of four straight sets to take control at 6-3, before crushing any hopes of an MVG fightback by sealing an unforgettable victory.
“The way I felt when I won will never be topped, no matter what I do in this sport in the future,” said an emotional Smith.
“To be World Champion and world number one is amazing.
“Michael let me off a lot and, for once, I finally took my chance.
“In practice today I kept going 180-180-miss and I wanted to give the crowd what they deserved, a nine-darter.
“When I won the Grand Slam I said I would eventually become World Champion and world number one.
“I want to do what Michael [van Gerwen] has done, I want to dominate the sport but he’s still around!
“It’s now one-one between us in World Championship finals, but I don’t think it will be the last.”
Competing in his sixth World Championship final, Van Gerwen suffered a third defeat in the sport’s showpiece event, posting his first sub-100 average of the tournament.
“Michael played a phenomenal game, he deserves this win,” admitted a gracious Van Gerwen.
“Of course, I had my chances – I missed too many doubles and when you don’t hit them you get punished.
“I didn’t play too well in the last few sets but I can only blame myself for that, you have to take it on the chin.
“When you lose games it’s hard but it’s part of the job. I will be back.”
A game of the highest quality saw Smith end the match with a 100.87 average and an incredible 22 180s, while Van Gerwen posted a 99.58 average with 15 maximums.
The opening set saw Van Gerwen land an 84 checkout to break throw and win his 14th consecutive set of the tournament.
The second set featured the greatest leg of darts in televised history as Smith produced a roof-raising nine-dart finish in the same leg which saw Van Gerwen miss double 12 for a perfect leg of his own.
The nine-darter, the 14th in PDC World Championship history, sealed a break of throw for Smith, who then tidied up 25 in two darts to wrap up the set and level the match at 1-1.
After missing the bullseye for a 170 checkout, Smith wrapped up the third set, before Van Gerwen took the fourth without conceding a leg to level the tie at 2-2.
In a fifth set decider, Van Gerwen broke throw in 14 darts to take the lead for what proved to be the final time in the match at 3-2.
However, the key passage of the match saw Smith win 12 of the next 16 legs to take a 6-3 lead in sets.
Van Gerwen stopped the rot with a 105 checkout before the set ten decider saw Smith take the first shot at a match-winning checkout, but he was unable to land a 167 before Van Gerwen found a last-dart double 16 to stay alive.
Van Gerwen then took a 2-0 lead in the 11th set, but Smith hit back with a 106 checkout, followed up with a 15-dart break to move within a leg of the title.
Smith kicked off the deciding leg with back-to-back 180s before sealing victory with an 11-darter on double eight to confirm a stunning 7-4 success and clinch the £500,000 top prize.
He becomes the 11th different player to win the PDC World Championship, the fifth Englishman, and the 12th different PDC world number one.
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Michael van Gerwen dismisses stamping accusation during World Championship Semi-Final
Michael van Gerwen has denied claims he stamped on the stage during his whitewash win over Dimitri van den Bergh in the World Championship Semi-Finals on Monday.
Van Gerwen stormed to a 6-0 rout of Van den Bergh at Alexandra Palace with a tournament-high average of 108.28, dropping only four legs in the process.
A notable flashpoint in the match came during the third set when the pair exchanged words after a visibly frustrated Van den Bergh appeared to question whether Van Gerwen had been encroaching on the exclusion zone as he was about to throw.
Van Gerwen then seemingly urged the Belgian to pick up the pace before closing out the leg with a show-piece 170 checkout and staring his opponent down.
After wrapping up a comprehensive victory to move into his sixth world final, the three-time World Champion revealed in a fiery post-match press conference that he was accused of ‘stamping’ by Van den Bergh.
“He was complaining about something, but oh well, I would complain as well if I was playing like him,” said Van Gerwen.
“All the important moments in the game, I was the boss, I was the one who was in charge of the game.
“He said I was stamping. I didn’t stamp at all.
“The commentators were talking about it and I was standing in the exclusion zone.
“Just look towards my last 50-100 games where I stand in my game, just have a look.
“I always do the same, I never do anything to put someone off. But if they lose, they always have to say something.
“There’s no need for it, he was trying something that wasn’t there, otherwise he would say it afterwards in his interview as well and make it a big thing.
“There was not a big thing but people want to make it a big thing.
“If people accuse me of stamping then that’s something different, because I didn’t do that. If I did then I would tell you straight away because I don’t care.”
Van Gerwen will now take on Michael Smith in Tuesday night’s final, marking a repeat of their 2019 encounter which the Dutchman won 7-3 to claim the most recent of his three world titles.
As well as picking up the Sid Waddell Trophy and £500,000 top prize, the winner will also become the new world number one.
Words exchanged between Van Gerwen and Van den Bergh on stage 🗣️👀#WorldDartsChampionship pic.twitter.com/RpLXMuHEIE
— Live Darts (@livedarts) January 2, 2023
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Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith live stream | World Darts Championship final preview
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith face off on a date with destiny in the 2022/23 World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.
The box office duo meet in the sport’s show-piece fixture for the second time, with Smith eyeing revenge for his painful defeat in 2019.
For both, it is a culmination for a remarkable season of success, but only one can walk away with the Sid Waddell Trophy and £500,000 top prize.
The winner will also claim the world number one spot over 2022 World Champion Peter Wright.
Van Gerwen is vying for a fourth world title and has enjoyed a serene passage into his sixth final at Ally Pally courtesy of a series of blistering displays.
World Champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, the Dutch sensation has been the dominant force on the circuit this season, storming to Premier League, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals glory to take his tally of PDC major titles to 45.
He also racked up a further three European Tour titles, two ProTours and a World Series crown and put down an immediate marker upon his return to the capital by thrashing Lewy Williams in straight sets with a 101.8 average – dropping just one leg in the process.
The green machine fended off a spirited effort from a resurgent Mensur Suljovic to clinch a 4-2 victory with a stunning 107.6 average and followed that up with further ton-plus averages in dismantling Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-1 and Chris Dobey 5-0.
He then registered the highest average of the tournament so far (108.28) in a brutal 6-0 whitewash of Dimitri van den Bergh in Monday’s second Semi-Final, landing a 170 checkout in the process.
An incredible strike rate has seen MVG win 45 of his 56 major finals, two of which against Smith, and he has won 37 of their 50 previous meetings.
Smith, however, defeated his nemesis 8-4 in the final to claim the US Masters title in New York last June and heads into his third World Championship final as a major winner for the first time, following November’s Grand Slam triumph.
The St Helens star is out to atone for last year’s heartbreak when he squandered a 5-4 lead in the final to Peter Wright in an eventual 7-5 defeat.
The fourth seed got off to the perfect start by whitewashing Nathan Rafferty in nine consecutive legs, before surviving a major scare from Martin Schindler as he battled back from 3-1 down to snatch a narrow 4-3 victory.
He then averaged 103.2 in a dominant 4-1 defeat of fellow Premier League star Joe Cullen, before fending off a late rally from Stephen Bunting on New Year’s Day to seal a 5-3 victory despite registering his lowest average of the tournament so far (91.63).
A contrasting performance was to follow as ‘Bully Boy’ reeled off four consecutive sets to end the historic run of Germany’s Gabriel Clemens with a 6-2 success which included 19 maximums and a 101.8 average.
Victory over Van Gerwen would see Smith become the eleventh different PDC World Champion, the fifth Englishman and the 12th different PDC world number one.
The final commences from 8pm GMT and will be contested over the best 13 sets, best of five legs per set.
Deciding sets must be won by two clear legs, unless the score reaches 5-5, in which case a sudden-death leg will be played.
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Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith set up World Darts Championship final rematch
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith will collide in the final of the 2022/23 World Darts Championship after dispatching Dimitri van den Bergh and Gabriel Clemens at Alexandra Palace on Monday.
A repeat of the 2019 final will see Van Gerwen vie for a fourth world title, while Smith eyes his first on the back of picking up his first major just two months ago.
Van Gerwen produced a majestic display to whitewash a helpless Van den Bergh 6-0, averaging 108.3 – the highest of the tournament so far.
Meanwhile, two-time runner-up Smith crashed in 19 maximums and landed five ton-plus finishes to curtail Clemens’ fairy-tale run in the capital, reeling off four straight sets to close out a 6-2 success.
Van Gerwen stole the headlines with a blistering display, following up his 5-0 demolition of Chris Dobey in the Quarter-Finals with another whitewash win to move through to his sixth World Championship final.
The three-time World Champion has now won 13 sets without reply, and posted his fifth ton-plus average of the tournament to continue his bid for a first Ally Pally title since 2019.
Van den Bergh struck the first blow with a sublime 170 finish during the opening set, only for Van Gerwen to reply with legs of 14 and 11 darts to open his account.
The Dutchman extended his winning run to eight straight legs to storm into a 3-0 cushion, taking out a sensational 170 checkout of his own in a spectacular third set, which saw him average 128.
Van den Bergh threatened to reduce the deficit after forcing a fourth-set decider with a superb 121 on the bull, but after spurning two set darts, the Belgian was not afforded another opportunity.
Van Gerwen produced another three-leg blitz in set five, registering winning legs of 13, 11 and 11 darts to record another set average of 128.83, before firing in a trio of 13-darters to cap off a sensational showing.
“To win games like that gives you confidence and joy, but I haven’t won anything yet,” insisted Van Gerwen, who defeated Smith 7-3 to lift his third World Championship ttile four years ago.
“It feels phenomenal to play the game I played tonight. I’m playing out of my skin at the moment and it means a lot to me.
“The crowd gave me so much energy, but I also try to give them something back and tonight it worked, because I produced a stunning performance.
“I feel good, I feel comfortable and I’m doing the right things at the right moments. Roll on tomorrow now.”
In Monday’s opener, Smith produced a blistering display to move through to his third World Championship final in five years.
Smith, who was beaten by Peter Wright in last year’s final, turned on the style to deny trailblazer Clemens – who made history in becoming the first German player to feature in a PDC World Championship Semi-Final.
The St Helens star drew first blood in an astonishing opening set which featured six 180s, taking out 106 on tops to wrap it up.
He then kicked off set two with back-to-back 11-darters, but Clemens rallied, surviving four set darts to restore parity at one apiece.
The next two sets also went the distance, and despite Smith’s unrelenting assault on the treble 20, Clemens appeared unfazed, defying a spectacular 161 finish from the fourth seed to draw level at 2-2.
However, Smith swept through set five with successive legs of 15, 12 and 13 darts to regain the initiative, and a clinical 83 finish on the bull in a sixth-set decider saw him establish a two-set advantage.
Smith then defied a spirited fightback from Clemens to clinch set seven with a 106 average, before punishing crucial missed doubles from the German in the latter stages to seal his place in Tuesday’s show-piece.
“I’m in my third final in five years. I’m over the moon,” said Smith, who averaged 101.8 to continue his bid for the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.
“It wasn’t quite the complete performance, but I wasn’t far off. Everything felt good tonight, there were a couple of dodgy scores, but you can’t be perfect every leg.
“This means everything. From the heartache of last year – I’ve battled through over the last 11 months, just to get back to this stage and get another chance – it’s been special.
“I will never give up. I finally won my first TV title at the Grand Slam, and hopefully I can get my first World Championship tomorrow. I want to get revenge against Michael from 2019.”
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 Semi-Final Results
Monday January 2
Michael Smith 6-2 Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Dimitri van den Bergh
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 | Semi-Finals preview and order of play
The final four aim to keep their World Darts Championship dream alive on Semi-Finals night at Alexandra Palace on Monday.
Ninety-six came, now only four remain in pursuit of the Sid Waddell Trophy and £500,000 top prize as they face off for a date with destiny.
The Last Four line-up includes three major title winners and a player enjoying an historic run to a first televised PDC ranking Semi-Final.
The opening match of the night sees reigning Grand Slam champion Michael Smith take on German superstar Gabriel Clemens.
Smith is bidding to go one better than a year ago when he finished runner-up to Peter Wright after leading 5-4 in the final, having also lost out to Michael van Gerwen in the 2019 final.
The world number four got off to the perfect start by whitewashing Nathan Rafferty in nine consecutive legs, before surviving a major scare from Martin Schindler as he battled back from 3-1 down to snatch a narrow 4-3 victory.
He then averaged 103.2 in a dominant 4-1 defeat of fellow Premier League star Joe Cullen, before fending off a late rally from Stephen Bunting on New Year’s Day to seal a 5-3 victory despite registering his lowest average of the tournament so far (91.63).
Smith is out to maintain his unbeaten record in World Championship Semi-Finals and boasts a dominant head-to-head record against Clemens with four wins from their five previous meetings.
Clemens is carrying the hopes of a huge darting nation on his shoulders and has already created a slice of history by becoming the first German to reach the Semi-Finals of the PDC World Championship.
The 39-year-old had never made it past the Last 16 stage of a PDC major since gaining his Tour Card in 2018 but has produced some of the best darts of his career to storm into the semis.
ProTour event finalist in 2022, Clemens dismissed William O’Connor in straight sets before edging out Jim Williams in a nail-biting last-set decider.
He then dashed the hopes of Alan Soutar with a commanding 4-1 success, before pulling off a remarkable 5-1 rout of top seed and 2021 champion Gerwyn Price on New Year’s Day with an average just shy of 100.
The German Giant will be determined to pick up from where he left off less than 24 hours ago and will again be roared on by a strong German contingent inside Ally Pally.
The second Semi-Final sees three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen face former World Matchplay winner Dimitri van den Bergh.
The pair met at this stage of July’s World Matchplay in Blackpool, with Van Gerwen prevailing 17-14 on his way to claiming the title.
Van Gerwen, World Champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, has been the dominant force on the circuit this season, also storming to Premier League, World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals glory to take his tally of PDC major titles to 45.
The Dutch sensation racked up a further three European Tour titles, two ProTours and a World Series crown and put down an immediate marker upon his return to the capital by thrashing Lewy Williams in straight sets with a 101.8 average – dropping just one leg in the process.
He then fended off a spirited effort from a resurgent Mensur Suljovic to clinch a 4-2 victory with a stunning 107.6 average – the highest of the tournament so far and followed that up with back-to-back ton-plus averages in dismantling Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-1 and Chris Dobey 5-0.
Van Gerwen is appearing in his eighth World Championship Semi-Final since 2013, having won five of those so far, and remains the red hot favourite to regain the sport’s most prestigious silverware.
Van den Bergh, meanwhile, has broken new ground by reaching his first World Championship Semi-Final, becoming the first Belgian to do so.
The world number 15 picked up two World Series titles in 2022, while also reaching the Semi-Finals of the World Matchplay and finishing runner-up in two European Tour events.
He dropped just one set in seeing off Lourence Ilagan, Krzysztof Ratajski and Kim Huybrechts en route to the Quarter-Finals – where he battled past former Premier League champion Jonny Clayton 5-3.with second successive 95.5 average.
Ominously for the 28-year-old, he has won just one of his 13 previous meetings with MVG, with that coming back in 2018.
Victory in their most high-profile encounter to date, however, would see him climb to seventh in the Order of Merit and deny the Dutchman the chance to regain the world number one spot by going the distance.
The action commences from 7.30pm GMT, with Semi-Final matches to be contested over the best 11 sets, best of five legs per set.
Deciding sets must be won by two clear legs, unless the score reaches 5-5, in which case a sudden-death leg will be played.
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 Semi-Finals Schedule
Monday January 2
Semi-Finals
7.45pm Gabriel Clemens v Michael Smith
9.30pm Dimitri van den Bergh v Michael van Gerwen
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Gabriel Clemens thrashes Gerwyn Price to storm into World Darts Championship Semi-Finals
Gabriel Clemens continued his historic run at the World Darts Championship with a 5-1 demolition of top seed Gerwyn Price to reach the Semi-Finals at Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day.
Clemens had already made history by becoming the first German player to reach the Quarter-Finals of the PDC World Championship, and he created further headlines with a remarkable rout of the 2021 World Champion.
An unforgettable clash created a further global talking-point after Price resorted to wearing noise-cancelling ear defenders during the fifth set.
Price had made a blistering start to the contest, producing 140 and 110 checkouts in consecutive legs to draw first blood in winning the opening set without Clemens having a dart at a double.
However, the German number one responded magnificently, posting ton-plus averages to win each of the next two sets, and then converting a stunning 136 finish en route to a 3-1 lead.
In an unprecedented attempt to block out the noise from the partisan German fans, Price returned from the interval wearing a set of ear defenders.
The move, however, did little to change the Welshman’s fortunes as Clemens fired in an 11-darter to wrap up set five, before completing a clean sweep in set six to extend his dream run.
“I think this will be amazing for darts in Germany,” said Clemens. “This was the biggest match of my life and it’s my best performance on the stage. I’m so happy.”
“Michael Smith is the Grand Slam champion, one of the favourites for the tournament and one of the best players in the world, but I will have my chances.
“I think it will be a good game. I am only focusing on the semi-finals, and I think I can beat every player.”
Meanwhile, Grand Slam champion Michael Smith moved to within a win of his third World Championship final in five years with a hard-fought 5-3 defeat of Stephen Bunting.
Smith, who came through a seventh-set decider against Martin Schindler in the last 16, looked to be cruising into the final four as he raced into a 4-1 lead against his St Helens rival.
However, 2021 semi-finalist Bunting came roaring back, winning six of the next seven legs to reduce the arrears to 4-3 and threaten an extraordinary fightback.
Nevertheless, the eighth set saw Bunting spurn a string of darts at doubles and Smith capitalised, holding his nerve on double ten to advance to the last four for the second straight year.
“I wasn’t at my best up there today,” admitted Smith, who will become the new world number one if he scoops the £500,000 top prize on January 3.
“I managed to dig deep when I needed it and when I was under pressure I managed to hit doubles.
“For most of the tournament I’ve been winning ugly, but I’m into the semi-finals.
“I put myself under too much pressure. Today felt weird on stage, but I when I needed to produce something I found it.”
Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen stormed through to the Semi-Finals courtesy of a 5-0 demolition of a helpless Chris Dobey.
The Dutchman raced to victory in just over 33 minutes of play, averaging 102, landing five 180s and relinquishing just three legs en route to a crushing win.
“I feel good – Chris didn’t play his game but I put him under pressure from the beginning,” said Van Gerwen, who posted his fourth consecutive ton-plus average at this year’s World Championship.
“If Michael van Gerwen turns up, he is going to win the game, but you need to make sure your preparation is right, your focus is good.
“You need to believe in your own opportunities and your own ability, and that’s what I do.
“I have learnt from my defeats in the last few years and I’ve come back stronger. I feel comfortable, my belief is back and I’m looking forward to the semi-finals.”
In the day’s opener, Dimitri van den Bergh moved through to the Semi-Finals for the first time in his career, running out a 5-3 winner in a hard-fought battle against Jonny Clayton.
The Belgian number one, starring in his third Ally Pally Quarter-Final, fought back from 3-2 down, winning three consecutive sets to break new ground in the capital.
Clayton’s clinical combination finishing proved decisive in the opening exchanges, but Van den Bergh’s superior scoring power catapulted him to victory, as he landed 13 maximums to triumph.
“I’m one step closer to make my dream come true of becoming a PDC World Champion,” said Van den Bergh, who becomes the first Belgian to reach the Semi-Finals of the sport’s flagship event.
“It was a battle up there today, I had a few moments when I felt comfortable but I missed my chances in the early stages.
“Jonny had chances too but thankfully he didn’t take them and I’m delighted to be through.
“It is special to finally pull through to the semi-finals but I still haven’t shown my best yet; I think I have the game to go all the way.”
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 Quarter-Final Results
Sunday January 1
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session
Dimitri van den Bergh 5-3 Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith 5-3 Stephen Bunting
Evening Session
Gerwyn Price 1-5 Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Chris Dobey
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Gerwyn Price threatens to boycott World Darts Championship after wearing ear defenders in Quarter-Final exit
Gerwyn Price has threatened to boycott the World Darts Championship in future years after resorting to wearing ear defenders during his Quarter-Final defeat to Gabriel Clemens.
Price was thrashed 5-1 by an inspired Clemens at Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day, ending his hopes of a second world title in the space of three years.
More than 700 partisan German fans were inside a sold-out Ally Pally to support their top tungsten talisman, and in an unprecedented attempt to block out the noise, Price returned from the interval at 3-1 down wearing a set of ear defenders.
The move, however, did little to change the Welshman’s fortunes as Clemens claimed the next two sets to wrap up a comprehensive win and continue his ground-breaking run into the Semi-Finals.
Within minutes of departing the stage, Price took to Instagram to air his frustration, posting: ‘So frustrating you play all year round preparing for this one tournament. So gutted I wasn’t let play but good luck everyone left in. Not sure I will ever play in this event again.’
He has since suspended his Instagram account and is next due to compete in the inaugural Bahrain Darts Masters from January 12-13.
The defeat also sees Price surrender the world number one spot and slip to fourth in the Order of Merit, his lowest end of season ranking since 2018.
According to the PDC, Price applied for and received permission to wear ear defenders under rule 5.17.2: ‘No headgear…shall be worn without the prior permission of the promoter’.
Gerwyn Price gives his immediate reaction on Instagram 📲#WorldDartsChampionship pic.twitter.com/wYRaojP1Ls
— Live Darts (@livedarts) January 1, 2023
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 | Quarter-Finals preview and order of play
The new calendar year starts with a bang as the Quarter-Finals of the World Darts Championship take centre stage at Alexandra Palace.
Ninety-six came, now just eight remain in pursuit of the Sid Waddell Trophy and £500,000 top prize, with the line-up consisting of two former PDC World Champions, four major title winners and two players entering uncharted territory.
The Quarter-Finals are split across two unmissable sessions at Ally Pally, kicking off with a clash between former World Matchplay champion Dimitri van den Bergh and former Premier League champion Jonny Clayton.
The pair previously met in the Last 64 of the World Championship in 2018, with Van den Bergh prevailing with a 104 average on that occasion, but Clayton’s revenge has included victories in the 2021 World Series final and 2022 Masters.
Clayton racked up four televised titles in a landmark 2021, but has been thwarted at the Semi-Final hurdle in four TV tournaments this season, including last month’s Players Championship Finals, and will be determined not to fall short again here.
The tenacious Welshman finished top of this year’s Premier League table before bowing out in the play-offs, but did claim glory at the New South Wales Masters last August – his sole title in 2022.
An impressive opening salvo saw ‘The Ferret’ brush aside Dutch debutant Danny van Trijp in straight sets with a 99.6 average, before overcoming Brendan Dolan 4-1 in a close-run contest which saw all five sets go the distance.
He then secured his place in a first World Championship Quarter-Final by edging out World Youth Champion Josh Rock 4-3 in a thrilling encounter.
Van den Bergh, meanwhile, is appearing in the Quarter-Finals here for the third time since 2018, having dropped just one set in seeing off Lourence Ilagan, Krzysztof Ratajski and Kim Huybrechts so far.
The world number 15 picked up two World Series titles in 2022, while also reaching the Semi-Finals of the World Matchplay and finishing runner-up in two European Tour events, and can expect his first real examination of the event against the world number seven.
St Helens stars Michael Smith and Stephen Bunting then face off in the second tie of the day, as both look to continue their blistering bursts of form.
Newly-crowned Grand Slam champion Smith has charged into his fourth Ally Pally Quarter-Final and is out to fulfil his darting destiny after two near misses in world finals.
Bully Boy is bidding to go one better than a year ago when he finished runner-up to Peter Wright after leading 5-4 in the final, having also lost out to Michael van Gerwen in 2019.
The world number four got off to the perfect start by whitewashing Nathan Rafferty in nine consecutive legs, before surviving a major scare from Martin Schindler as he battled back from 3-1 down to snatch a narrow 4-3 victory.
He then averaged 103.2 in a dominant 4-1 defeat of fellow Premier League star Joe Cullen to set up a first meeting with Bunting on this famous stage since 2014.
Bunting prevailed 4-2 on that occasion on his way to reaching the Quarter-Finals, and this is now The Bullet’s third appearance at this stage of the event.
His best run came behind closed doors two years ago when he reached the Semi-Finals before being denied by eventual champion Gerwyn Price.
The former Lakeside Champion recovered from losing the first set to defeat North American champion Leonard Gates 3-1 in his opener, before averaging 102.2 in a magnificent 4-2 win over Dave Chisnall and going on to dispatch fifth seed Luke Humphries 4-1 with an average just shy of 100.
The evening session kicks off with a show-down between world number one Gerwyn Price and German number one Gabriel Clemens.
Price has continued his strong recent record at this venue by marching into a fourth consecutive Quarter-Final to remain on course to defend the £500,000 title-winning prize money from 2021 against his world ranking.
Runner-up in this year’s World Matchplay and winner of the World Series Finals, the Welshman came from a set down to defeat Luke Woodhouse with a crucial 150 checkout along the way, before thrashing his recent nemesis Raymond van Barneveld 4-0 and powering past Jose de Sousa 4-1 in the Last 16.
Price has won all four of his previous meetings with Clemens – who has made history by becoming the first German player to reach the Last Eight of the PDC World Championship.
Clemens is carrying the hopes of a huge darting nation on his shoulders and will once again be backed by a strong German contingent in the crowd as he vies to pull off the biggest win of his career.
The ProTour event finalist dismissed William O’Connor in straight sets before edging out Jim Williams in a nail-biting last-set decider and dashed the hopes of Alan Soutar with a commanding 4-1 success.
Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen aims to maintain his emphatic head-to-head record over Chris Dobey when the duo collide in the final match of the evening.
Van Gerwen has won 11 of their 12 previous encounters, however his perfect record was ended by the Tynesider in their most recent meeting at the European Championship in October.
Van Gerwen, World Champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, has been the dominant force on the circuit this season, storming to Premier League, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals glory to take his tally of PDC major titles to 45.
The Dutch sensation has racked up a further three European Tour titles, two ProTours and a World Series crown this season and put down an immediate marker upon his return to the capital by thrashing Lewy Williams in straight sets with a 101.8 average – dropping just one leg in the process.
He then fended off a spirited effort from a resurgent Mensur Suljovic to clinch a 4-2 victory with a stunning 107.6 average – the highest of the tournament so far and followed that up with another ton-plus average in dispatching Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-1.
Dobey is enjoying his best run in the World Championship to date, having lost in the Fourth Round in three of his last four appearances.
The three-time major semi-finalist followed up a routine 3-0 win over Martijn Kleermaker by knocking out two-time World Champion Gary Anderson 4-1 and took the scalp of another former winner by overcoming 2018 champion Rob Cross 4-2 with a blistering 102 average.
Dobey was due to face MVG in last year’s Third Round, but was handed a bye after the Dutchman tested positive for Covid and was consequently withdrawn from the event.
The action commences from 12.30pm GMT, with Quarter-Final matches to be contested over the best nine sets, best of five legs per set.
Deciding sets must be won by two clear legs, unless the score reaches 5-5, in which case a sudden-death leg will be played.
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 Quarter-Finals Schedule
Sunday January 1
Afternoon Session (12.30pm-4.30pm)
Dimitri van den Bergh v Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith v Stephen Bunting
Evening Session (7.30pm-11pm)
Gerwyn Price v Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey
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Michael van Gerwen marches into World Championship Quarter-Finals as Dobey dispatches Cross
Michael van Gerwen maintained his quest for a fourth World Championship title with an emphatic 4-1 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode on Friday, as the Quarter-Final line-up was completed at Alexandra Palace.
The final day of darting action in 2022 saw the remaining six Fourth Round ties take place, with three-time World Champion Van Gerwen and two-time runner-up Michael Smith easing through to the Last Eight.
Van Gerwen registered a record-extending 36th ton-plus average in the sport’s showpiece event to dispatch his compatriot Van Duijvenbode and move through to a ninth World Championship Quarter-Final.
The number three seed drew first blood in a high-quality opening set, which featured a 117 finish from Van Duijvenbode and a superb 11-dart opener from Van Gerwen.
The 33-year-old then defied a sublime 170 finish from Van Duijvenbode to double his lead, although the three-time TV finalist rallied to halve the deficit, following up a crucial 76 finish with a brace of 180s to win set three.
Nevertheless, Van Gerwen punished a sluggish spell from his compatriot to restore his two-set cushion, before producing a classy 120 checkout in set five to seal his progression in style.
“It wasn’t a perfect performance, but I did some really important shots when I had to,” said Van Gerwen, who recorded his seventh consecutive ton-plus average on the televised stage.
“I’m full of confidence and in the next round the format is going up. Everything is going to be in my favour, but you need to stay sharp and stay focused.
“I’m only in the quarter-finals and last time I was in the quarter-finals I was smashed 5-0 by Dave Chisnall, so I don’t want to put myself in the same position again.”
Van Gerwen will now take on Chris Dobey on January 1, after the Bedlington star produced a stunning display to dump out 2018 champion Rob Cross and reach the Quarter-Finals for the first time.
Cross struck the first blow before Dobey responded in an extraordinary second set, winning three straight legs to level despite the sixth seed averaging almost 119.
Cross restored his cushion in set three, but a spectacular 170 finish from Dobey midway through the fourth shifted the pendulum, and the three-time TV semi-finalist showed his class to close out a landmark win.
“It’s the best win of my career,” admitted Dobey, who averaged 102 to make it back-to-back wins over World Champions, following his defeat of Gary Anderson in Round Three.
“This is the biggest competition in the world and it’s my best performance on the World Championship stage, so to get over that last 16 hurdle is another tick on my list.
“Michael is on top form and he’s going to take some beating, but I beat him last time out at the European Championship, so I’ll be ready.”
Earlier in the day, fourth seed Smith produced an imperious display to storm through to the Last Eight at Ally Pally, averaging 103 to complete a 4-1 win over Masters champion Joe Cullen.
Smith produced a blistering mid-game burst to seize the initiative, reeling off four straight legs in just 49 darts to move 2-1 ahead, only for Cullen to stop the rot with a spectacular 153 checkout.
However, Smith came through an edgy fourth set to extend his cushion, before rounding off victory with a sublime 12-darter in a fifth-set decider, having kicked off the leg with seven perfect darts.
“I finally turned up and it felt good,” declared the Grand Slam champion, who averaged 103, landed ten 180s and converted 40% of his attempts at double.
“I think the first set was important. Being 1-0 down against Joe could have been a big game-changer, and I knew I couldn’t afford to throw sets away.
“I want to play the best players, I want to beat the best players and I want to show how far my game has come, and winning this title would mean everything.”
Smith’s reward is an all-St Helens clash against Stephen Bunting, after the 2021 semi-finalist continued his magnificent recent form to dispatch fifth seed Luke Humphries 4-1.
Bunting averaged 102 to overcome Dave Chisnall in round three, and he delivered a similarly impressive display to account for the former UK Open runner-up.
The former Lakeside Champion landed 121, 127 and 106 checkouts to cap off a clinical display, defying a brief rally from Humphries in set three to preserve his hopes of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Clemens made history with a resounding 4-1 success against Scottish star Alan Soutar to become the first German player to reach the Quarter-Finals at the PDC World Championship.
The opening two sets were shared, but Clemens assumed control midway through the tie, converting 85, 92 and 62 combinations in set three, before producing legs of 11 and 15 darts to move 3-1 ahead.
Germany’s number one then conjured up a majestic 148 finish on tops to edge closer to victory, and overcame some late nerves to book a fascinating quarter-final showdown against top seed Gerwyn Price.
“I’m in the quarter-finals of the World Championship, it’s amazing,” admitted Clemens.
“I hope this inspires younger players in Germany. There are so many German fans in the crowd, and that’s really nice.
“Gerwyn is the favourite, but I’ve played three good games on this stage, and we will see. I believe I will give him a good game and I will take my chances.”
Meanwhile, in Friday’s opener, Dimitri Van den Bergh secured a place in his third World Championship quarter-final after producing a demolition job to defeat his Belgian World Cup partner Kim Huybrechts in straight sets.
Van den Bergh kicked off proceedings with a sublime 11-dart leg which set the tone for a dominant display, and he won nine of the last ten legs to set up a New Year’s Day showdown against Jonny Clayton.
The Quarter-Final action will take place in a blockbuster double session on New Year’s Day.
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 Day 13 Results
Friday December 30
Fourth Round
Afternoon Session
Kim Huybrechts 0-4 Dimitri van den Bergh
Gabriel Clemens 4-1 Alan Soutar
Michael Smith 4-1 Joe Cullen
Evening Session
Rob Cross 2-4 Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries 1-4 Stephen Bunting
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 | Day 13 preview and order of play
The Quarter-Final line-up will be confirmed at the World Darts Championship on Friday following the final day of action in 2022.
Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton became the first men to book their place in the Last Eight at Alexandra Palace on Thursday, leaving a host of other star names vying to join them in returning on New Year’s Day.
The afternoon session commences with only the second all-Belgian clash in the history of the PDC World Championship as World Cup team-mates Dimitri van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts collide.
Van den Bergh is bidding to reach the Quarter-Finals here for the third time since 2018, having dropped just one set in seeing off Lourence Ilagan and Krzysztof Ratajski so far.
The world number 15 has picked up two World Series titles this year, while also reaching the Semi-Finals of the World Matchplay and finishing runner-up in two European Tour events.
Huybrechts last made the Quarter-Finals at Ally Pally on his debut a decade ago and comes into the contest fresh from dethroning reigning champion Peter Wright with a commanding 4-1 victory on Tuesday.
The Hurricane has partnered Van den Bergh in the last five World Cups, with the pair twice reaching the Semi-Finals, and will look to reaffirm his stance as the grand master of Belgian darts by defeating his young compatriot on the sport’s biggest stage.
Two players aiming to break new ground go head-to-head as Gabriel Clemens faces Alan Soutar.
Clemens is carrying the hopes of Germany on his shoulders after winning through to the Last 16 for the second time in the space of three years.
The ProTour event finalist dismissed William O’Connor in straight sets before edging out Jim Williams in a nail-biting last-set decider and will once again be backed by a large German contingent at Ally Pally.
Scottish hero Soutar finds himself in the Last 16 for the second successive year, having started out in the First Round.
He followed up a routine 3-0 win over Mal Cuming by brushing aside Daryl Gurney by the same score-line, before staging a trademark revival from two sets down to dump out Danny Noppert earlier in the week.
Two of this year’s maiden major title winners lock horns in a mouth-watering climax to the afternoon session as Michael Smith meets Joe Cullen.
This has proved a familiar fixture throughout the season, with the duo having featured in the Premier League and met twice in last month’s Grand Slam.
Smith prevailed 5-1 in the Group Stage before recovering from 15-13 down to claim a thrilling 16-15 win in the Quarter-Finals, then going on to secure his first televised ranking title that weekend.
Smith is bidding to go one better than a year ago when he finished runner-up to Peter Wright after leading 5-4 in the final, and he has endured two contrasting matches so far.
The world number four got off to the perfect start by whitewashing Nathan Rafferty in nine consecutive legs, before surviving a major scare from Martin Schindler as he battled back from 3-1 down to snatch a narrow 4-3 victory on Wednesday.
Premier League finalist Cullen is vying to reach his first World Championship Quarter-Final at the 13th attempt, having defeated Ricky Evans 3-1 before whitewashing Damon Heta 4-0 with a 98 average.
The evening session centres around a fascinating all-Dutch encounter between three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen and multiple TV finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Van Gerwen, World Champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, has been the dominant force on the circuit this year, storming to Premier League, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals glory to take his tally of PDC major titles to 45.
The Dutch sensation has racked up a further three European Tour titles, two ProTours and a World Series crown this season and put down an immediate marker upon his return to the capital by thrashing Lewy Williams in straight sets with a 101.8 average – dropping just one leg.
He then fended off a spirited effort from a resurgent Mensur Suljovic to clinch a 4-2 victory with a stunning 107.6 average – the highest of the tournament so far.
Van Duijvenbode is into the Last 16 here for the third consecutive year after holding his nerve in two nail-biting encounters, firstly against Karel Sedlacek after the Czech ace had missed a match dart, before surviving five match darts from Ross Smith in a pulsating tie which featured a record 31 maximums and went all the way to a sudden death leg.
Van Duijvenbode enjoyed a breakthrough run to the final of the 2020 World Grand Prix has gone from strength-to-strength since, picking up three ranking titles and finishing runner-up in a further two televised events, including this year’s Dutch Darts Masters on home soil.
The opening match of the night sees 2018 World Champion Rob Cross take on three-time major semi-finalist Chris Dobey.
Dobey will be eyeing a dose of revenge after squandering an 8-2 lead in an eventual 11-9 defeat to Cross in the opening round of July’s World Matchplay.
The Tynesider followed up a routine 3-0 win over Martijn Kleermaker by knocking out two-time World Champion Gary Anderson 4-1 and is now aiming to avoid a fourth exit at this stage of the competition in his last five appearances.
Cross famously lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy at the first attempt with victory over departing legend Phil Taylor in the final and has gone on to win the World Matchplay and two European Championship titles.
The world number six warmed up for the main event of the year by finishing runner-up to Michael van Gerwen in last month’s Players Championship Finals, having also reached three European Tour finals this season and picked up a brace of Players Championship titles.
Voltage, who came from a set down to defeat his close friend Scott Williams 3-1 in Round Two, then averaged 99 in comfortably seeing off former World Master Mervyn King 4-1.
Luke Humphries looks to continue his superb record at Ally Pally by reaching a fourth Quarter-Final in his last five outings, and the fifth seed comes up against an in-form Stephen Bunting.
Humphries is enjoying his highest ever ranking position and has had a terrific end to the season which has seen him reach the Semi-Finals of both the Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals last month.
However, he has had to dig deep for deciding set wins over Florian Hempel and Vincent van der Voort this campaign and will be keen to hit top form at the business end.
Bunting’s best run at Ally Pally came behind closed doors two years ago when he reached the Semi-Finals before being denied by eventual champion Gerwyn Price.
The former Lakeside Champion recovered from losing the first set to defeat North American champion Leonard Gates 3-1 in his opener, before averaging 102.2 in a magnificent 4-2 win over Dave Chisnall on Thursday afternoon.
The action commences from 12.30pm GMT, with Fourth Round matches to be contested over the best seven sets, best of five legs per set.
Deciding sets must be won by two clear legs, unless the score reaches 5-5, in which case a sudden-death leg will be played.
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World Darts Championship 2022/23 Day 13 Schedule
Friday December 30
Fourth Round
Afternoon Session (12.30pm-4.30pm)
Kim Huybrechts v Dimitri van den Bergh
Gabriel Clemens v Alan Soutar
Michael Smith v Joe Cullen
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Rob Cross v Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting
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