World Darts Championship: Michael van Gerwen to play Gary Anderson in semi-finals

Darts fans have gotten their wish as two-time champions Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen will meet in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship semi-finals after winning their last eight ties on Sunday (NZ time).

Anderson made it through to the semi-finals as he overcame Dave Chisnall 5-2, while world number one Van Gerwen eased into the final four with a 5-1 win over Ryan Joyce.

The duo will now square off on Day 15 of the event at the Alexandra Palace in London on Monday (local time) for a spot in the final for the Sid Waddell trophy, where the winner will pocket £500,000 (NZ$947,509).

Between them, Anderson (2015-16) and Van Gerwen (2014 and 17) have won four of the last five world titles. 

Anderson beat Van Gerwen in the semi-finals 6-3 en route to his first title, while the Dutchman beat the fourth seed in the 2017 final 7-3. They also met in the last 16 in 2013, which van Gerwen won 4-3.

Scotland's Anderson, who has struggled with a back injury in the tournament, averaged 103.03 and hit 12 180s in his win over England's Chisnall.

The 48-year-old won six of the first seven legs as he raced out to a three-set lead, and then missed double nine to go 4-0 up before Chisnall finally got a set on the board.

Anderson then claimed the fifth set to go within one of the match, and although Chisnall held throw to take the next set and reduce the deficit, the Scot held on to reach his fourth semi-finals in five years.

Van Gerwen was less troubled in his match against England's Joyce, although he did struggle during the third and fourth sets.

The 29-year-old went 2-0 up but was not at his fluent best as Joyce took the third set. Joyce had a chance to level the match, but couldn't capitalise as Van Gerwen won the deciding leg of the fourth set, restoring his two-set advantage.

Van Gerwen then secured the next two sets for victory, averaging 101.12 in the win.

Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith.
Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith. Photo credit: AAP

The winner of that match will face either Nathan Aspinall or Michael Smith in the final after the English pair advanced to the semi-final stage for the first time with 5-1 wins over Brendan Dolan and Luke Humphries respectively.

Aspinall, who is competing in his first world championship, won four straight sets before Dolan got on the board. He went onto win the sixth set which guarantees him at least £100,000 (NZ$179,5547) - which is more money that he has won during his three years on the professional circuit.

Smith eased past Luke Humphries, who had knocked out defending champion Rob Cross on the previous day.

The 28-year-old dominated the match from start to finish, averaging 103 with eight 180s in the win.

The semi-finals are best of 11 sets.

Newshub.