Michael van Gerwen holds off rampant Rydz in one of the great PDC World Darts Championship quarter-finals

Michael van Gerwen has set up a 2025 PDC World Darts Championship semi-final with Chris Dobey at the Alexandra Palace, seeing off Callan Rydz in one of the great quarterfinal battles 5-3.

Youth vs experience, raw talent vs proven pedigree, iconic hair vs iconic baldness, there were plenty of interesting stories heading into this quarter-final. Twice Rydz broke the Van Gerwen throw in the opening set, but twice the Dutchman responded in kind, forcing a deciding leg. 'MvG' had the advantage of throw in the fifth leg. Both players had a dart from a ton-plus checkout but it was Van Gerwen who returned to pin double 5 and make it 1-0.

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Although Van Gerwen might have taken the opening set, Rydz could've taken good heart from the fact he had darts to win all five legs. A stunning 135 checkout to open set 2 continued the positive early signs from the Englishman. Breaking in leg 2 with another 12-darter, holding in the following, Rydz completed the whitewash set to level the contest at 1-1.

Rydz made it four legs on the spin with a brilliant 111 checkout to get set 3 underway. Missing three darts to hold throw though, Rydz allowed Van Gerwen to break straight back. Both players missed doubles in the next leg but again it was Van Gerwen who took it eventually to scrap his way into a 2-1 lead in the set. As MvG missed a dart at tops for the set, Rydz punished to force a deciding leg. The Dutchman had the darts and the proved key as Van Gerwen made it 2-1 in sets.

Rydz again bounced back strongly from going a set down though. After the first three legs of set 4 went with the throw, the 'Riot' broke MvG in leg 4 to take the set 3-1 and get back to 2-2 at the break.

Although the scores were level in sets, Rydz was leading 10-7 in leg play and averaging 103 to Van Gerwen's 98 as the fifth set began. The Dutchman started the set strongly though, holding throw. Van Gerwen just couldn't shake Rydz off though as he fired straight back with a two double 18s 92 checkout. As Van Gerwen began to bring his best darts though, going seven deep into a nine-darter in leg 3, 'MvG' moved one away from restoring his set lead. It was then Rydz turn to threaten a nine though, starting leg 4 with five perfect darts before eventually pinning double 16 for an 11-dart leveller. For the third time in the match though, Van Gerwen held his throw in the deciding leg to get back in front at 3-2.

Yet again though, Rydz showed no sign of wilting under pressure of being a set down, starting set 6 with a strong hold of throw. Missing a break opportunity in the next leg though, the Englishman let Van Gerwen off the hook slightly. After taking that chance with both hands to hold throw, MvG then broke Rydz in leg 3 to take full control of the 6th set. Finishing the job off in leg 4, Van Gerwen got himself clear distance for the first time in the match at 4-2 to the good.

Starting set 7 with six perfect darts, Van Gerwen was threatening to surge towards the winning line. Rydz survived a couple of missed darts at double to level up in the next leg, before then breaking the Van Gerwen throw with an ice-cold 70 checkout in leg 3. Firing in two 180s and a tops-tops 99 checkout, Rydz sealed the set in the most sumptuous of styles, getting back in touch at 4-3 down.

Holding comfortably, the momentum continued for Rydz early in set 8. With Van Gerwen responding with a 12-darter though, the Dutchman moved just two legs from victory. Nailing tops for a nerveless 72, Rydz then moved 2-1 up in a must-win set. As the match 180 count tipped the 30-mark, Van Gerwen moved to one away via tops. Would it be game over or level game? Rydz had the advantage of throw, and had two darts to force a deciding set. When he missed though, Van Gerwen punished to take the 5-3 victory.

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