Price produces superb display to defeat De Sousa and set up World Matchplay semi-final with Noppert, regains World Number One spot

Gerwyn Price has reached a maiden semi-final at the World Matchplay as he looks to add the Phil Taylor Trophy to his resume after seeing off Jose de Sousa in a superb 16-14 victory at the Winter Gardens.

Price will now face UK Open champion, Danny Noppert tomorrow night with a potential final with his rival, Michael van Gerwen awaiting after hitting a 104 average, nine 180's each, high checkout of 160 and 45.7% on the doubles.

One thing that is for certain though come what may is that Price will return to the top of the Order of Merit as World Number One next week after usurping Peter Wright.

Price had a blockbuster start pinning a 160 checkout en route to a 2-1 lead but De Sousa produced the same massive checkout in reply. At the interval though, ‘The Iceman’ took a slender lead at 3-2.

De Sousa was only averaging 91 to 103 from Price but he pinned a 93 checkout to make it parity at 5-5. But this disparity began to show with Price starting to run away with the tie at 7-5 and 8-6 with a 90 checkout using two double 18’s in between.

But at the break, it was a 9-6 lead from ‘The Iceman’ as he headed towards double figures. De Sousa pinned a 92 checkout after Price initially pressured to hold at 9-7 down.

Double 20 was pinned by Price who went to double figures at 10-7. The holds continued with De Sousa hitting double 14 for 10-8.

A 177 and 44 checkout saw Price go 11-8 up as this progression continued with an 11-darter. A 75 checkout saw Price head in with another break though as he went 12-8 up.

De Sousa missed 87 on bull to break back and Price pinned double 12 for a five leg gap at 13-8. Both went wild on the 180’s with De Sousa getting down to 141 and even on the 44 he had remaining, Price was sat on 76.

‘The Special One’ produced a superb last dart on double 20 to go 13-9 down but the legs were running out. Price missed three darts for 14-9 and De Sousa broke back to make it 13-10 and he was throwing to go only two legs down which he took.

A De Sousa special saw him pin two double 20’s on a 100 checkout to break again at 13-12. He claimed parity despite an otherwise poor leg at 13-13.

Price stopped a mini rot at 14-13 on double eight. A 168 and 100 left double 20 for Price who pinned double 10 from there to break back and go one away at 15-13.

De Sousa hit back perfectly with a 180 to start and a 145 to leave double 18 at 15-14 down for a 10-darter as he was throwing for overtime after Price missed bull for a 128 checkout to win.

De Sousa missed multiple darts but Price couldn't hit the 112 to win only for De Sousa to miss more darts and 'The Iceman' had three at double eight to win taking it out last dart in hand.