Florian Hempel sets up World Championship rematch with Dimitri Van den Bergh, two years after shocking the Belgian

Florian Hempel has set up a World Darts Championship rematch with Dimitri Van den Bergh thanks to a 3-1 win over Dylan Slevin in a tight contest.

Although Hempel was the more experienced of the pair on the Ally Pally stage, neither player looked settled early doors. In a nervy first set where both averaged only around the 80 mark, it was Slevin who took it by three legs to one.

To start set 2 however, Slevin looked to have become more comfortable, pinning a stunning 167 checkout to edge in front. Hempel fired back in leg 2 with a ton-plus of his own, 107. With the set going all the way to a deciding leg, Slevin blew his opportunity, missing four darts for a two set lead with Hempel punishing to level up.

Slevin bounced back well to start set 3, moving two legs clear in the set but as Hempel fought his way back into the set, more profligacy on the outer ring from the Irishman proved costly. Sinking 85, the German took the set and the lead.

Continuing with the momentum, Hempel quickly moved two clear in the fourth set but after he missed a match dart in the third leg, Slevin punished to prolong the encounter. Despite a final 180 of defiance however, the Irishman could do nothing to prevent Hempel from sinking double 18 this time around, sealing the win.