Van Gerwen dents Aspinall comeback charge to set up semi-final clash with Van den Bergh at World Matchplay

Michael van Gerwen will face Dimitri van den Bergh in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay after a pulsating 16-14 win over Nathan Aspinall to end the first night of Quarter-Final action at the Winter Gardens.

He produced 12 180's, a high checkout of 146 to win and 48% on his doubles as he survived a comeback from 11-4 down with 'The Asp' nearly sending it to a tie-break.

It is a sixth semi-final in this tournament for 'Mighty Mike' but he will look to claim his first title since 2016 this weekend albeit facing 'The Dreammaker' who is in red hot form. What a semi-final that shapes up to be.

To begin the tie, Van Gerwen led narrowly 3-2 at the interval albeit with only holds of throw. He had a chance to break on return but spurned darts which allowed Aspinall back for double 12 to hold again and make it 3-3.

MVG pinned double 20 to go 4-3 up and hold once more. Aspinall missed two darts from 52 and Van Gerwen pinned double 20 again to make it 5-3. He hit a 56 checkout to hold and go 6-3 ahead. Another break with a 57 checkout saw MVG head into the next interval 7-3 up and easing through.

He consolidated from there to go 8-3 up. A 180 and 41 checkout saw MVG continue to head towards double figures at 9-4.

It went from bad to worse for Aspinall with MVG breaking again with a 97 checkout to go 10-4 up. A 65 checkout saw him consolidate at 11-4 ahead.

Aspinall hit a 106 checkout to hold and go 11-5 down. He broke back from there with a 65 checkout at 11-6. It was three legs on the spin for Aspinall as he brought himself back into contention at 11-7.

At the next interval, he was 12-8 adrift but still keeping the pressure on including a 112 checkout to make it 13-9. But Van Gerwen continued to hold and build his lead and went two away at 14-9.

With his back against the wall, Aspinall produced a 164 checkout to hold and save the game at 14-10 down. He wasted multiple darts at double though in the requisite leg and Van Gerwen went one away at 15-10.

Aspinall pinned 106 to hold at 15-11 but Van Gerwen was throwing for the win only to be broken again by the Stockport ace with a 90 checkout on the bull at 15-12 down.

Aspinall missed two from 41 but Van Gerwen could not take out 100 and Aspinall sat 15-13 down. From 170, Van Gerwen set up 36 with Aspinall not able to take out 121 which allowed the Dutchman back but he missed three darts and Aspinall broke again at 15-14.

A 12th 180 from Van Gerwen saw him look to avert a tiebreak and he sealed it in style with a 146 checkout to escape.