PDC World Darts Championship schedule: Semi-finals preview

In a year of shocks and big scalps, it's a bit anticlimactic that three of the four semi-finalists were fairly easy to call pre-tournament. But Nathan Aspinall bucks that trend. Before 2018, his biggest payday earned him £5,000. That changed with Players Championship 18 in September, which he won - that banked £10,000. Now, at the 2019 PDC World Championship, the Asp will take £50,000 at least. It is the most meteoric of rises for a man who didn't have a Tour Card 12 months ago. The former world youth finalist has taken out Geert Nentjes, Gerwyn Price, Kyle Anderson, Devon Petersen and on debut. Now he's one step from being the most surprising finalist since Kirk Shepherd over a decade ago. Michael Smith stands in Aspinall's way. He's only 10 months his opponent's senior, but the chasm in big match experience is vast. This year alone, Smith has reached a final on the floor, on the European Tour, twice in World Series regional events and at the World Series Finals. There were wins in Barnsley and Shanghai, but otherwise Bully Boy has fallen just short. There will be fewer chances this good to reach the final of the PDC World Championship. Aspinall is someone he knows well, and he will know how much of a favourite he is. Smith didn't let it affect him . If he can see off Aspinall, he can shed his reputation of always being the bridesmaid, and never the bride. This could be the start of something big.

Oh, Michael van Gerwen. Oh, Michael. You and your big mouth.
Fresh from a fairly comfortable win over Ryan Joyce, he spoke to Dutch press. And Mighty Mike asserted that he would "slaughter" semi-final opponent Gary Anderson. "He did not show anything special until Saturday," he added. He's not so much kicking the hornets' nest as using it for a game of heads and volleys. Anderson was irresistible against Dave Chisnall. And with victory in sight, the Scot will only improve. It happened at the UK Open, and at the World Matchplay. The Flying Scotsman is a born winner. With his back problems seemingly abating, van Gerwen should be ready for someone who can match him on any stage.
That being said, the Dutch master has the right to be confident. The last time van Gerwen failed to average more than 100 at the World Championship was against Rene Eidams on December 18 2015 - he managed a paltry 99.03. The Green Machine has dropped just a single set in each match. He's the world number one. And the last time he met Anderson at the Ally Pally, he walked away with the trophy. The 2017 final still has its place in the record books. A year on from MVG's World Championship humdinger against Rob Cross, we could be on for another classic semi-final. The winner gets one hand on the trophy everyone wants. For now, we need to decide who will end 2018 still dreaming of darting dominance.

19:15 Michael Smith vs Nathan Aspinall 20:45 Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson