PDC World Championship: semi-final predictions & darts betting tips

Betting preview and free tips for semi-finals day of the William Hill World Darts Championship on Saturday at Alexandra Palace, London.

When to watch

Live on Sky Sports Arena, 6pm Saturday

Best bets

Gary Anderson to beat Dave Chisnall
2pts 6-5 Betfair, Power

Gary Anderson to win 6-3
1pt 8-1 Betfair, Power

Gerwyn Price to win 6-3
1pt 5-1 Betfair, Power

Preview

Michael van Gerwen, odds-on favourite for the William Hill World Darts Championship going into his quarter-final against Dave Chisnall, was destroyed 5-0 by the inspired outsider to throw the tournament wide open at the semi-finals stage.

Chisnall had lost his previous 27 matches against Van Gerwen, but conjured the performance of his life, averaging 107.34 for a whitewash which was available at 100-1 prior. The magnificence of Chizzy's quarter-final effort sees him no bigger than 12-5 for outright glory.

Chisnall faces two-time PDC world champion Gary Anderson in the semis at approximately 8.15pm. Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price, installed as favourite after Van Gerwen's elimination, contest the first semi at 6.15pm.

Stephen Bunting v Gerwyn Price 6.15pm

Two of Gerwyn Price's matches in this competition have had a final-leg decider - he has gone the distance against Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney - and the gutsy Welshman must feel like his name is destined to end up on the trophy.

Coming through two such tight jousts, as well as a 3-2 second-round victory over Jamie Lewis, stands Price in great stead for the rest of the event. He has got through with his determination and grit, rather than finding his A-game, and could be set to peak at the perfect time.

Michael van Gerwen averaged 98.29 in getting spanked by Dave Chisnall, while Price averaged 96.36 in edging Daryl Gurney. Price is producing when it matters - if he gets pushed, he raises his level - and he has created a golden chance to claim darting dominance.

With Van Gerwen gone, Price knows that a World Championship victory would also mean world-number-one status. With so much at stake, the two-time Grand Slam of Darts champion seems set to bring a passion and focus to the oche which could overwhelm Stephen Bunting. Price got used to winning in 2020 and will fancy himself from here.

The Iceman leads Bunting 6-3 in the head-to-heads. The two biggest matches they have contested were in the 2019 World Matchplay and the 2019 Players Championship Finals quarters - Price won 13-12 and 10-3. Bunting's scoring power can keep it respectable - the 2014 BDO champion is certainly no mug - but Price has become such a formidable, relentlessly consistent opponent in the last year or so, and a 6-3 success could be on the cards.

Expect the World Grand Prix champion to slip up a gear in the semis and show why he has been so successful over the last couple of years.

Dave Chisnall v Gary Anderson 8.15pm

Gary Anderson's opening match in the World Championship had to be delayed because he had come into contact with somebody who tested positive for Covid-19, he was still being troubled by a knee injury, had not practised much, and was not expected to threaten an Alexandra Palace hat-trick.

Anderson's mood dipped further when he was wound up by Mensur Suljovic's slow-coach tactics in their third-round meeting. The Scot seemed close to bursting bloodvessels in post-match interviews, raging about Suljovic and various others, still looking nothing like a potential 2021 champion.

But what a difference a few days can make. Suddenly, having cruised past Devon Petersen 4-0, before following up with a 5-1 dismissal of Dirk van Duijvenbode and a 101.07 average, the Flying Scotsman is looking a serious contender.

The 50-year-old will have been thrilled to see Van Gerwen defeated and will consider himself the man to beat at the last-four stage. The other three survivors have never won a PDC world title, which is an important fact when it comes down to who can hold their nerve down the closing stretch. Anderson is bursting with experience and, crucially, seems fit enough for the battle.

Darts history is littered with examples of players producing the performance of their life, swiftly followed by them chucking a bag of nails next time out. Dave Chisnall, twitching with adrenaline throughout his masterclass against Van Gerwen, could suffer the same fate.

Chisnall could not help talking himself up after beating the favourite, but Anderson is starting to fancy the job and has had Chizzy's measure in the past.

In their 25 previous meetings, Anderson has triumphed 19 times, with one draw in the Premier League in 2017. Anderson won their PDC World Championship quarter-final meeting in 2018 by five sets to two, and at the same stage in 2016, he won 5-3. Their only clash this year ended in a 6-3 victory for Anderson on the PDC Home Tour in June.

An Anderson versus Gerwyn Price final may be coming. Chisnall maximums may keep things tight early, before the superior poise, ringcraft and belief of Anderson proves decisive. A 6-3 victory is on offer at healthy odds.

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