PDC World Darts Championship Live Stream, Schedule of Play and Semi-Final Preview
- Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson starts at 19:10 GMT
- Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld scheduled for 21:15 GMT
Raymond van Barneveld (L) and Phil Taylor (credit: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
Three of the world’s top four players, alongside a five-time World Champion, comprise tonight’s semi-final line-up at the PDC World Darts Championship in a repeat of last May’s Premier League play-offs.
The tournament takes place at the Alexandra Palace and play tonight is scheduled to start at 19:10 GMT.
Preview:
72 came a fortnight ago, now just four remain in the running to be crowned 2015 PDC World Champion at Alexandra Palace.
Two of the biggest box office names in World Darts collide in a scintillating opening Semi-Final, as Scottish star Gary Anderson bids for revenge over rival Michael van Gerwen.
The world number one and world number four lock horns in a mouth-watering repeat of their Premier League play-off last May and epic tussle in the last 16 on this very stage in 2013.
Having finished top and second on the ProTour order of merit in 2014, Van Gerwen and Anderson have been arguably the two most consistent performers on both floor and stage and get set to contest what could be an all-time classic Semi-Final.
Michael van Gerwen (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Dutch sensation van Gerwen remains on course to join an elite crop of only two players to have successfully defended the PDC World Championship title since 1994, having navigated his way to a tenth consecutive victory at Alexandra Palace.
Van Gerwen, though, has incredible never defended a major ranking title in his career so far, but will be desperate to quash that statistic on the biggest stage of all.
Players Championship Finals winner Anderson looks to continue his charge towards a maiden world title on the back of a season which has seen him end his major drought and clinch a further seven non-televised triumphs.
The 2011 finalist saw off America’s Scott Kirchner before edging out Jelle Klaasen in a last-set thriller and coming from behind to dispatch surprise package Cristo Reyes and powering past fellow countryman Peter Wright 5-1 with a 102 average.
No player has hit more 180s in the tournament than the Flying Scotsman – who is certain to add to his impressive tally of 36 so far, and it’s that deadly scoring power which could hold the key to a memorable victory over the green machine.
Two players with 21 world titles between them renew their fascinating rivalry on darts’ biggest stage as Phil Taylor meets Raymond van Barneveld in a simply mouth-watering show-down.
Both titans have survived multiple scares en route to the penultimate stage of the competition, but now the gloves are off as they prepare to write the next chapter in the sport’s greatest rivalry.
Second seed Taylor has reiterated his desire to regain this crown and has suggested it could be his last realistic chance to add to his tally, and after altering his darts midway through the competition, the 54-year-old has even more cause for optimism.
While ‘The Power’ has not been at his vintage best up to this stage, he holds the highest average of the tournament and has made a career out of peaking at the right times.
Taylor has notably fended off fightbacks from Kim Huybrechts and Vincent van der Voort in the last two rounds, and now looks to put paid to another Dutchman’s hopes to remain on his collision course for a final meeting with Michael van Gerwen.
Van Barneveld, meanwhile, has dug deep and demonstrated his true fighting qualities with three consecutive deciding set victories over Jamie Caven, Adrian Lewis and Stephen Bunting.
A new-look Barney has marked a welcome return to form after a torrid run of results in recent months, and the Dutch legend is out to remain on course for a sweet sixth world title to eclipse Eric Bristow’s haul.
There was little expectation of 50/1 outsider Barney before a dart was thrown, with the 47-year-old’s immediate priority to go some way towards protecting his top 16 status by defending the £50,000 in prize money earned from his run to the semis here two years ago.
That aforementioned Semi-Final saw Barney battle back from 5-1 down to 5-4, before Taylor closed out a dramatic triumph, leading to an ill-tempered clash between the pair on stage in the following moments.
Five-time World Champion van Barneveld ended a seven-year wait for a ‘Power cut’ in front of the television cameras when he defeated Taylor in last May’s Premier League Semi-Finals, and will be desperate to repeat the dose on his nemesis tonight.
Schedule of play for Saturday, January 3rd:
All Times GMT
Semi-Finals
7.15pm Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
9.15pm Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
