Michael van Gerwen set to sink Gary Anderson in titanic tussle

Semi-finals
Sky Sports Main Event & Arena, 7pm Sunday

M van Gerwen v G Anderson: head-to-head 36-18
It doesn't get much better than this. The world's best arrowsmiths going head-to-head on the Alexandra Palace stage in the semi-finals of the William Hill World Championship.

Mighty Michael van Gerwen the almost unstoppable force in darts takes on Gary Anderson, one of the few who has managed to put up any consistent resistance to the dominate Dutchman in recent times, and if the betting is anything to go by it promises to be closely contested.

MVG is rated an 11-20 poke to book his place in the final, while Anderson is a 13-8 chance to do as he did four years ago, and beat the Dutchman at the semi-final stage.

Two years ago the pair clashed in the final of the PDC showpiece and MVG went off 2-7 with Anderson a 3-1 poke and whether enough has changed to bring the pair closer together by that amount is questionable.

Anderson's supporters will point to the fact MVG has failed to claim the UK Open, World Matchplay, Grand Slam and the Players Championship crowns this year but a repeat of 2016 when the Dutchman won all of those events was unlikely and Van Gerwen still picked up the Grand Prix title in Dublin this year.

The Flying Scotsman produced an outstanding display for the first three sets in his 5-2 quarter-final victory over Dave Chisnall but Chizzy had opportunities and it's unlikely Van Gerwen will be quite so charitable.

Van Gerwen averaged 108.08 when pushed by Adrian Lewis in the fourth round and still managed 101.12 with his foot off the gas against Ryan Joyce in the last eight.

It's a top-quality contest and Anderson is clearly capable of winning but perhaps that's not as likely as the prices suggest and backing MVG to give the Scot a 1.5-set start looks the punt.

Recommendation
M van Gerwen -1.5 sets
1pt 5-6 general

M Smith v N Aspinall: head-to-head 3-1
Nathan Aspinall was a 1,000-1 chance before a dart was thrown in north London and the Asp is now just 3-1 to reach the World Championship final.

Michael Smith stands in his way and on last night's quarter-final performance it's difficult to see past Bully Boy. The St Helens chucker managed a 103 average in a commanding 5-1 win over the impressive Luke Humphries and a repeat of anywhere near that level should be too much for Aspinall.

The one question mark is how Smith will handle the occasion but Bully Boy kept his cool against Humphries and it's a new experience for Aspinall too.

Smith should outscore the Asp and if he remains competent on the double he can run out a comfortable winner.

Recommendation
M Smith -2.5 sets
1pt 4-5 BoyleSports

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