Defending champion Van den Bergh recovers to reach back-to-back World Matchplay finals

Defending World Matchplay champion, Dimitri van den Bergh will be in the final for the second straight year aiming for back-to-back titles after seeing off Krzysztof Ratajski 17-9.

Van den Bergh will face either Michael van Gerwen or Peter Wright tomorrow night after recovering from 6-2 down to see off 'The Polish Eagle' who suffered due to missed darts at double from a winning position.

Ratajski was superb to start the tie and was uptowards the 104 average as he surged into a 4-1 lead and when they returned, he went further ahead with a 6-2 advantage as he took the game to the defending champion in the early exchanges.

But a crucial moment occurred when he looked at 7-2, he missed two darts for a five leg lead and Van den Bergh broke back.

At the second break, Van den Bergh clawed it back to 6-4 behind and as Ratajski continued to miss, the Dreammaker got stronger and he suddenly lead 7-6 with five legs on the spin to reverse the tie on it's head.

A 128 finish in sensational fashion from Van den Bergh using two lots of T16 and double 16 saw him lead 8-6 and surge away from Ratajski.

It was seven unanswered legs from Van den Bergh as he went into the interval 9-6 up and seemingly heading towards the final.

Ratajski finally stopped the rot at 10-7 down when they returned but could he return to the foray?

He did with a break back for a 10-8 deficit after three missed darts at double 12 went begging for Van den Bergh and it was soon three straight legs for the former World Master who made it 10-9.

Van den Bergh though recemented his cushion with a 110 checkout to make it 11-9 and more missed doubles from Ratajski allowed Van den Bergh in for a 12-9 lead.

Another break of throw came for Van den Bergh who pinned a 112 finish for a 14-9 lead and as Ratajski put his missed darts total up to 27, he went one away from victory at 16-9 up throwing for the match and he completed the feat.