Littler breaks! Littler 4-2 Aspinall (legs 2-0) Aspinall’s scoring has been so good tonight. He’s first to a finish after yet another 180 – but a single 5 means he can’t get a shot at double from 84. Littler punishes him with a devastating 101 checkout: a 12-dart break, and now he’s throwing for the match again.

Littler 4-2 Aspinall (legs 1-0) The pace of this game is dizzying. Aspinall puts pressure on Littler, who just about holds by hitting double four with his last dart.

Aspinall breaks back! Littler 4-1 Aspinall (legs 2-2) How can you not love Nathan Aspinall? He hits his only dart at double to break Littler – who threatened a 156 – and take this set to a deciding leg.

Littler breaks! Littler 4-1 Aspinall (legs 2-1) A poor start from Littler – 92 in his first six darts – allows Aspinall to build up a big lead on his own throw. Littler changes the mood with the inevitable 180 – and it has the desired effect when Aspinall misses D16 and D8. Littler, who has missed the bull all night, nails it to take out 90 and break throw.

Littler is throwing for the match.

Littler 4-1 Aspinall (legs 1-1) Another 180 from Littler sets up a pipe-and-slippers 13-dart hold. Aspinall is running out of wiggle room.

Littler 4-1 Aspinall (legs 0-1) Aspinall has the darts in this set, although Littler challenges that by starting with a 180. Two poor visits give control back to Aspinall, who then misses tops for a 15-darter but returns to do the job on double five.

Littler threatened to take out a 152, hitting one treble 20 before wiring the second and gurning in disgust.

Aspinall breaks back! Littler 3-1 Aspinall (legs 2-1) Littler makes a rare mess of 25, including a miss at D10 for the set. Aspinall punishes him eventually, but only after two more misses apiece. Although he’s still on course for a huge victory, Littler’s doubling will be a slight concern going into the last four.

Littler breaks! Littler 3-1 Aspinall (legs 2-0) It feels like this game is hurtling towards its conclusion. Aspinall hits a 180 to leave 32, only for Littler to smash in a hard-faced 101 to break in 12 darts. That’s his eighth leg in 12 darts or fewer tonight.

Littler 3-1 Aspinall (legs 1-0) Littler averaged 95 ineach of the last two sets; the difference is that Aspinall averaged 102 in the third and 91 in the fourth.

Littler wires tops and hits D10 to hold at the start of leg five. “It’s not even interesting anymore,” deadpans John Part on Sky. “He goes for double 10, he hits it.”

The match stats after four sets

• Averages Littler 101.38-95.85 Aspinall

• Double percentage Littler 44-38 Aspinall

• 180s Littler 8-6 Aspinall

• Legs won Littler 11-6

That double percentage feels like the most important stat. Aspinall has scored well, especially in the last two sets, but he hasn’t been as ruthless on the doubles. I guess that’s a reflection of the pressure that Littler applies.

Littler 2-1 Aspinall (legs 2-2) Aspinall hits two T20s, then drops his third dart and picks it up with a smile. He hasn’t stopped smiling all night, even when he was being hammered in the first two sets. Aspinall can’t hit the 180 but he gets a look at 83 when Littler misses the bull.

Aspinall wires the bull – that was for the set – and Littler hits his beloved D10. Sheesh.

“Hi Smudger Mr Bloggy Rob, and Happy New Year,” says Simon McMahon. “2025, eh, how did that happen? And when was it that walk-on music became a thing in darts? Maybe always, but it feels like it could be a Sky Sports thing? Can you imagine Bob Anderson walking on to Rhinestone Cowboy? Jocky Wilson to The Proclaimers. ‘Big’ Cliff Lazarenko to, I don’t know, Live is Life by Opus. Maybe they did, I’m getting on a bit and my memory isn’t what it used to be. Thirty five years of Scottish New Years will do that to you. But I do know that the darts is still absolutely freakin’ awesome, whatever the year. Cheers!”

Littler 2-1 Aspinall (legs 1-2) Littler is back on 248 when Aspinall misses a dart apiece at tops and D10. I was just about to say Littler is experiencing a dip when I remembered he almost hit a nine-darter about two minutes ago. But Aspinall is playing his best darts of the match and returns to finish without fuss.

Littler 2-1 Aspinall (legs 1-1) Littler misses T20 with his seventh dart. He does hit double 12, but it’s for a 12-darter rather than a nine. At this stage the hold is far more important because Aspinall is playing beautifully and could soon level the game.

Littler 2-1 Aspinall (legs 0-1) There’s one in every game: a leg where both men miss multiple doubles. Aspinall eventually nicks a hold, if that isn’t an oxymoron, on D4.

Littler 2-0 Aspinall (legs 2-2) A lazy last dart leaves Aspinall on 41 rather than tops. No matter: Littler is back on 120 after his next visit and Aspinall returns to clean up. He’s averaging 107 in this set to Littler’s 98 – but Littler has the darts in the deciding leg.

Littler 2-0 Aspinall (legs 2-1) Aspinall has really upped his game in this set. There are three 180s in a row, and it probably would have been four if Aspinall wasn’t on 181. He sets up 46 instead, and that’s all he can do: Littler pins D10 for yet another 12-darter. Aspinall is laughing at the quality of Littler’s performance.

Littler breaks back! Littler 2-0 Aspinall (legs 1-1) Aspinall shopuldn’t have done that. Littler hits back-to-back 180s en route to breaking in 12 darts, the end.

Aspinall breaks! Littler 2-0 Aspinall (legs 0-1) Aspinall returns from the break with a bang, rattling a 180 before hitting his first dart at double to win his first leg against the throw.

In isolation, Aspinall’s numbers aren’t bad: he’s 50 per cent on the doubles and averages 94.47. Littler has been even better on the doubles, hitting six out of 10, and I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you who’s dominating the scoring.

Littler breaks! Littler 1-0 Aspinall (legs 2-1) Littler hits the first 180 of the match. He’s scoring so well that Aspinall is feeding on scraps. He has six darts from 161 but doesn’t get a dart at double; Littler – who missed the bull on his previous visit - hits D5 for a 15-dart break.

Littler 1-0 Aspinall (legs 1-1) Littler pins D15 to hold in 11 darts. He’s yet to hit a 180 and he’s still averaging 117.40 in the match. This is an almost numbing level of brilliance; it’s hard to know what to say about him.

Littler 1-0 Aspinall (legs 0-1) Aspinall gets a much-needed hold, even if it took 17 darts. Littler had a look at 100 but missed the first of two double tops.

Littler breaks! Littler 0-0 Aspinall (legs 2-0) We knew there would be spells in the game when Littler would pummel Aspinall; we didn’t necessarily expect it to happen from leg one. But Littler hits D6 to make it back-to-back 12-darters, and this one is for a break. Yikes, we could be in bed by 10pm if this continues.

Littler 0-0 Aspinall (legs 1-0) Littler begins the match with 136, including a treble 20 first dart, and rams in a 105 finish to take the leg in 12 darts. Aspinall was back on 260-odd. Good evening Luke.

Nathan Aspinall comes out to Mr Brightside, the greatest walk-on song bar none and no it’s not up for discussion. I’ve just realised Luke Littler wasn’t even born when that song was released. Thanks everyone and goodnight.

Littler walks on to Greenlight by Pitbull. Talking of which – pick this segue out – he won the bull backstage and will throw first.

Right, time for a quick break before Littler v Aspinall.

Bunting wasn’t at his treblicious best – his match average was 95.55 – but he was the better player and did enough to hold off a slightly ominous fightback from Peter Wright.

Bunting breaks! Wright 2-4 Bunting (legs 0-2) Bunting pummels the red bits to leave 131 after nine on the Wright throw. He has at least six darts with Wright back on 184 – and needs them after a poor visit of 41.

His second finishing visit is magnificent: bullseye and tops at the first attempt. Bunting is throwing for a place in the semi-final.

Wright 2-4 Bunting (legs 0-1) There’s no break between the sixth and seventh set, which should suit Wright – he’s won six of the last seven legs.

Make that six of the last eight. Bunting holds brilliantly, hitting D4 last dart with Wright waiting on 48. That could change the momentum once again.

This is the set. If Bunting wins, he wins; if Wright takes it, the match will be back on throw and he will be rumbling inexorably towards Bunting.

Wright 1-4 Bunting (legs 2-1) Bunting is so close to getting a dart at tops from 160, but his second attempt at treble 20 deflects into the single. Wright takes out 58 in two darts to keep the fairytale alive.

Wright breaks back! Wright 1-4 Bunting (legs 1-1) Wright keeps niggling away at Bunting, who misses tops with his opponent on 32. Wright has got to take this – and he does at the second attempt. At this precise moment in time Wright is the better player; the problem is that he’s 4-1 down and potentially two legs away from being instructed to do one.

Bunting breaks! Wright 1-4 Bunting (legs 0-1) Wright can’t take out 144 but does at least leave 16. Bunting, on 76, hits single 20 and an accidental D16 before missing double 12. No matter: Wright misses three at double and Bunting breaks on D6.

That’s an untimely missed opportunity for Wright, who is again looking down the barrel.

“Maybe it’s time for some more oversharing,” says J.R. in Illinois. “What would be your walk-on song if you were a darts professional? Mine would be ‘Where’s Me Jumper’ by Sultans of Ping. I think that would send the crowd into paroxysms of delirium. I haven’t decided yet on what my nickname would be but I’ll be sure to let you know when I do.”

This would set Ally Pally aflame.

That was Wright’s best set by a mile: he averaged 105 (Bunting’s was 101) and hit three of his four attempts at double. If he holds to make it 4-2, Bunting might start to think the unthinkable.

Wright holds! Wright 0-4 Bunting (legs 2-0) You have to admire Peter Wright, who won’t accept the logic of defeat. He takes out 64 in two darts to go within one leg of winning a set against the darts.

Wright breaks! Wright 0-4 Bunting (legs 1-0) The greatest comeback since New Year’s Day 2024 starts here. Wright hits D10 to break the Bunting throw and give himself the merest snifter of hope.

Wright 0-3 Bunting (legs 0-2) Even if he is hammered here, Wright’s win over Luke Humphries will be remembered as one of the best of his career. It could also be the last hurrah for a player who turns 55 in March.

Bunting, by contrast, is reaching his peak ahead of his 40th birthday in April. His scoring has dropped slightly since the first set but he has been magnificent on the doubles, particularly 16; he hits it again to take a 2-0 lead in set four.

Bunting breaks! Wright 0-3 Bunting (legs 0-1) Wright makes a horrible mess of 72, hitting 7, 3 and 14. Bunting punishes him with another beautiful double 16 for a savage break of throw. He is rampant and leads 10-4 in legs.

Wright 0-2 Bunting (legs 2-2) Impressive stuff from Wright, who hits his solitary dart at tops with Bunting waiting on 68 (I think) for the set. But Bunting will throw for a 3-0 lead.

Wright 0-2 Bunting (legs 1-2) Wright ignores that blow to start with back-to-back 140s. His scoring has noticeably improved and he’s down to 116 after nine, with Bunting on 74 after 12.

Wright hits 20 and T20 before missing D18. Bunting gets one at tops and makes it count! That’s another beautifully timed finish from Bunting, who has recovered from a wobble and is a hold of throw away from a 3-0 lead.

Wright breaks! Wright 0-2 Bunting (legs 1-0) As Glen Durrant says on Sky Sports, Bunting looks so relaxed. This is the best he’s ever been, and a win tonight would move him to a career-high No5 in the provisional rankings.

Wright puts him under pressure by starting the set with his first 180 of the match. Bunting is first to a double, only to miss four of them, and Wright breaks for the first time in the match. He really needed that.

“Is darts the perfect sport for the social media age?” says Max Williams. “Very easy to follow, very fast moving and all comes in easily digestible chunks.”

You’re asking me about social media? What next: hairdressers? Six packs? Inner peace? (I can confirm one thing – it’s the hardest sport to liveblog that I’ve done, though I suspect tennis is even harder.)

Set two averages

• Wright 84.20

• Bunting 93.28

Wright’s problem is getting down to those 80-120 finishes; he has only one dart at double the second set and took it. But he didn’t hit a single 140 across four legs.

Bunting breaks! Wright 0-1 Bunting (legs 1-2) Wright is hanging on slightly. Scratch that, he’s hanging on desperately. He was waiting on tops when Bunting pinned 130 on the bull to move within a leg of a 2-0 lead. Bunting has been majestic so far.

Wright 0-1 Bunting (legs 1-1) Wright can’t live with Bunting’s scoring but finishes like that are his route to victory. He’s being pummelled on the big trebles, though, and Bunting takes out 101 for another impressive 15-darter. He’s hit all four attempts at double.

Wright 0-1 Bunting (legs 1-0) Bunting is start to bully Wright with two-treble visits. He’s first to a finish on the Wright throw, leaving 103 after 12, but can only hit 62.

Wright comes back for 81; this is the kind of finish he has to take. And he does just that: 19, T12, D13. That’s a superb hold under pressure.

Wright’s average dropped to 95 after a poor fourth leg on throw. This upcoming set already feels like a big one for him. And yes, I know it’s only about two minutes since I said he was playing well. Darts moves pretty fast.

Wright 0-0 Bunting (legs 1-2) Wright is scoring solidly, and the early signs are that the Humphries win wasn’t a glorious one-off. He is waiting on 60 after 12 when Bunting – who started the leg with the first max of the match – cleans up 52. Both players are averaging over 100.

Wright 0-0 Bunting (legs 1-1) A solid 140 from Wright sets him up for 130. He declines a shot at the bull – he thought about it – and takes out D16 second dart. A good start for both players on the doubles.

“Happy new year,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “Luke Littler is the winner of YSPOTY and is not yet out of his; D Gukesh is world chess champion and he is 18. When I was 18 I did not know my elbow from my nose. Such a depressing thought to start the new year.”

I’m taking the positives: at 48 I know exactly which creaking, weeping body part is which.

Wright 0-0 Bunting (legs 0-1) A slowish start from Bunting gives Wright a sniff at 117. Wright’s Ibiza finishing (80-120) will be key if he is to win this game. No dice this time and Bunting takes out D16 for a 16-darter.

Bunting has won the bull and will throw first. Game on!

If you’re missed the afternoon session, you’re an idiot. But Jonathan Liew’s report has you covered.

Tonight’s first game is Peter Wright v Stephen Bunting, a compelling clash of experience and form. Wright’s win over Luke Humphries was one for the books, a Hollywood script disguised as a darts match, and if he can repeat his performance on the doubles – if not the percentage then at least the killer timing – you’d fancy him. But Bunting has had a much better year and should be the more consistent scorer. You can make a good case for either player.

Luke Littler is a strong favourite to beat Nathan Aspinall in the second quarter-final. Aspinall’s main hope is the quality of his finishing so far, with a checkout percentage of 47. Littler (38 per cent) has looked vulnerable at times on the outer ring. His tournament average of 100.88 is still top of the list, mind, while Aspinall is 47th with an average of 91.22. If he improves his scoring and maintains his doubling he has a chance; if not Littler could get him out of there in hurry.

Hello again. Ready for part two of quarter-final day? Tom in Germany is.

This afternoon Van Gerwen felt like the seasoned, experienced professional rolling back the clock to produce that vintage form of around 10 years ago: it’s uncanny to remember he’s only 35, and could conceivably compete for world titles for another 20 years (Peter Wright is 54). And yet when Van Gerwen broke through to win the BDO World Masters in 2006, Luke Littler hadn’t been born.

While the all-star cast of most other professional sports is completely changed and unrecognisable with each passing 15 years, the beauty of darts is in the longevity of its careers: Phil Taylor and John Lowe can both boast to have won world titles across three different decades. That leads to a sprawling, generous overlap - a surreal haze of current and seemingly historical players competing against one another, despite appearing to belong to completely different eras: take Taylor, a man who won his first world titles before the foundation of the PDC, but also fought off a young Van Gerwen to win his last in 2013; or John Part, who first became world champion against an ailing Bobby George in 1994, and then for the last time in the late naughties at the Alexandra Palace in 2008. How irrevocably the sport has changed in those 14 years, and how fast it has continued to do so since then.

It’s also fascinating, and sometimes poignant, that players peak at completely different ages. Peter Wright reached his first World Championship final at the age of 43; Adrian Lewis reached his last (to date, we hope) at the age of 30.

While you’re waiting, here’s Jonathan Liew on the afternoon quarter-finals:

They call 1 January the greatest day in the darting calendar. Come back in another 364 days to see if there’s been a better match than this. Michael van Gerwen is a world championship semi-finalist again, beating Callan Rydz 5-3, and even if the bare facts of the transaction feel unremarkable enough, then rarely, if ever, will he have been pushed, challenged, interrogated than he was by the likeable Geordie here.

Van Gerwen celebrated wildly after resisting the full force of Callan Rydz’s talent win a truly wonderful match. We’ll hear from him any second now.

Rydz leaves 96 after nine – but Van Gerwen assaults the treble 20 to leave 48.

Van Gerwen 4-3 Rydz (legs 2-2) This is sheer delightful darts. Both men trade 180s, of course they do, but then both miss a big treble while looking for a combinbation finish. Van Gerwen has two at tops, needs only one. Rydz is throwing to stay in the match.

Van Gerwen 4-3 Rydz (legs 1-1) Van Gerwen barrels in an 11th 180 – and his ninth since set five – to hold in 12 darts. Now Rydz is under serious pressure to hold his throw.

Van Gerwen 4-3 Rydz (legs 0-1) A comfortable hold is a beautiful thing at this stage of the game. Rydz enjoys one, taking out 64 with Van Gerwen waiting on 142. He’s now 17-14 ahead on legs; he’s also close to the point of no return. Set play is an even more beautiful thing.

This has been the performance of Callan Rydz’s life. He looks so calm up there, eerily so for a world No43; his head went down for maybe one leg after Van Gerwen made it 4-2, no more than that.

The final break of the match is over. This is it, to the death, or at least the match dart.

“Going back to some earlier musings on the nature of darts, I think ten-pin bowling is probably the closest bedfellow,” says Matt Dony. “Both sports where competitors take turns to perform a closed-loop skill, dropping any substantial distance below ‘perfection’ is punished, and beyond presence, no direct impact on the other competitor’s attempts. I mean, it sounds laughable in many ways, because bowling just doesn’t have the cachet in this country, and we tend to think of it in terms of brash Americans (‘who do you think you are, I am!’), but they must have a fair psychological crossover.”

Especially with you on in the pavilion shouting “boring, boring tables” all the time.

How did Callan Rydz, the world No43, withstand that pummelling from Michael van Gerwen to take the seventh set against the darts? Bar a couple of poor visits at the start of the third leg, the standard was exceptional: Rydz averaged 109 in the seventh set to Van Gerwen’s 112.

Van Gerwen 4-2 Rydz (legs 1-1) Both men start with a 180, then a one-treble visit. Rydz is hanging on and does wonderfully to hit 140 and leave 96 after nine. He can’t take it out but MvG gets nowhere near his beloved 132 finish, the one that sealed his first Premier League title, and Rydz pins D4 to stop the rot.

Van Gerwen 4-2 Rydz (legs 1-0) Van Gerwen starts with six perfect darts for the second time. He goes round the houses after that, eventually taking the leg in 13 darts on D16. This has been a pulsating response to serious adversity.

VAN GERWEN BREAKS! Van Gerwen 3-2 Rydz (legs 2-1) A huge moment in the game. Van Gerwen, who has been hanging on, will now throw for a 4-2 lead after breaking Rydz! He started with a 180 and was down to 44 after nine darts. Rydz was on 171 after 12 when Van Gerwen returned to complete an 11-darter.

Van Gerwen 3-2 Rydz (legs 1-1) Rydz barrels in his 11th 180 (Van Gerwen has five) to set up a break opportunity from 81. He can’t take it on D13 and Van Gerwen mops up 52 with his last dart. Sheesh he needed that, as much for morale as because of the match situation.

Van Gerwen 3-2 Rydz (legs 0-1) Rydz hits D18 for a comfortable 13-dart hold, his sixth in a row I think. He’s still the better player, whatever the scoreline says.

Rydz still leads on legs, average, doubles and 180s. MvG is doing so well to repel him. But if Rydz maintains this level, and that’s a big if, I think he’ll win.

Rydz holds in 11 darts! Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 2-2) Rydz starts with five perfect darts and leaves 32 after nine. He hits D16 for an 11-darter; both men are averaging 111 in this set.

Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 2-1) No nine-darter, at least not yet. MvG hits his seventh treble 20 only to miss T19. He has to settle for a dominant 12-darter with Rydz way back on 208. This is wonderful.

Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 1-1) Van Gerwen is hitting 180 more at the start of this set than in the first four. Even so, Rydz hits two double 18s to take out 90 and take the leg! That was magnificent, especially with MvG waiting on 68, and the same finish that Chris Dobey pulled off to beat Gerwyn Price.

“Oh you’ll get no darts player slander from me - suspect the vast majority are fascinating company,” writes Max Williams. “The moment in the last final when Littler missed the double to go 5-2 up and suddenly realised he was human - such a heartbreakingly great moment. This is turning into a thriller as well.”

Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 1-0) Van Gerwen, who needed that mini-break to clear his head, begins set five with four perfect darts on his own throw. Rydz hits back with another 180 on his second visit and both men are down to a finish after nine.

MvG misses the big number from 81 and doesn’t get a shot at the bull. Rydz goes nowhere from 101 and Van Gerwen hits tops for an important 13-dart hold.

Van Gerwen 2-1 Rydz (legs 1-2) Rydz scoring has slipped ever so slig- no it hasn’t, he’s just hit 162 to leave 140, the old Rob Cross shot. He was in a bit of trouble in the leg but that put him in charge and he went out in 13 darts. The match, as the brilliant Dan Dawson points out on Sky, has been without a break for the last six legs.

Van Gerwen 2-1 Rydz (legs 1-1) There’s a lovely pace to this game, and a lovely contrast between the two: a sublimely talented 26-year-old on the way up and a 35-year-old trying to release his dormant genius. It reminds me a little of the 2019 final, in which Michael Smith played arguably the more eye-catching darts and Van Gerwen won 7-3.

I need to shut up and report what’s happening. Another Rydz 180 pressure Van Gerwen, who takes out 72 in two darts to hold.

Van Gerwen 2-1 Rydz (legs 0-1) Rydz takes out 52 in two darts with Van Gerwen waiting on 36 for a big break.

Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 2-2) Almost every leg has been closely fought; in fact Rydz has had a dart to win the lot. He gets two more when Van Gerwen misses tops for the set and hits D8 to take the set to a deciding leg. This is really big, especially for Van Gerwen.

Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 2-1) Van Gerwen leaves 112 after 12 on his own throw with Rydz on 76. He gets the T20 only to miss tops by a distance. Rydz hits single 1, almost redeems it on the bull but hits two 25s. Now MvG goes chasing round the board, missing three more doubles, but Rydz gives him another chance and he takes it.

MvG’s doubles are a worry, below 30 per cent now, but he’s hanging in there.

Van Gerwen breaks back! Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 1-1) At the moment MvG is feeding on scraps, like a 138 here against the throw. He can only bring it down to 80 – but he returns when Rydz misses his only dart at tops.

MvG does likewise after hitting only single 20s on his first two visits. Rydz dances round the board and busts his throw after missing D5 on the inside. Van Gerwen punishes him to bring the set – and the game – back on throw. This is tremendous stuff.

Rydz breaks! Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 0-1) We all knew how talented Rydz was – he has won floor tournaments and he was outstanding at the Worlds three years ago – but he has still been a revelation at this tournament. Rydz hits back-to-back 180s to set up a stunning 111 and a 12-dart break. Right here, right now, he is battering MvG, who is averaging over 100 himself.

Rydz breaks! Van Gerwen 1-0 Rydz (legs 0-2) Van Gerwen is doing well to stay afloat because Rydz is bullying him on the scoring. He starts with five perfect darts against the throw and hits D13 for another 12-darter! He is playing beautifully.

Van Gerwen 1-0 Rydz (legs 0-1) What a leg from Callan Rydz! He left 135 after nine and took it out with 25, 60 and then the bull. It’s only a hold but that’s a helluva statement of intent. For a player with his talent, a world ranking of 43 is a scandal.

Set averages

• Van Gerwen 102.38

• Rydz 103.93

Rydz did very little wrong, just those two set darts at tops. All five legs were won in 15 darts or fewer.

Van Gerwen breaks back again! Van Gerwen 0-0 Rydz (legs 2-2) Callan Rydz misses tops for a 115 – and the set. MvG has three at tops and does the necessary at the second attempt. Four breaks out of four; MvG will throw for the set.

Rydz breaks again! Van Gerwen 0-0 Rydz (legs 1-2) Rydz is outscoring MvG thus far and hits a second 180. Both men miss darts at double – MvG two at double 8 - before Rydz returns to hit D6 and continue this early break-off.

Rydz breaks! Van Gerwen 0-0 Rydz (legs 0-1) This is MvG’s first afternoon game at Ally Pally since he beat Gary Anderson in the last 16 in December 2013. Why the hell was that an afternoon game?!

Rydz hits the first 180 to pressure the MvG throw. MvG misses one at tops; Rydz nails his one and only dart at the same target. Game on!

MvG to throw first. Game on!

Here come the players. Callan Rydz (99.43) has a higher tournament average than Michael van Gerwen (98.26) and has been playing beautifully, but MvG was majestic in beating Jeffrey de Graaf and his experience makes him a strongish favourite. If he gets ahead early he could crush Rydz, as he did Chris Dobey at this stage two years ago. But Rydz played really well in his only previous semi-final, losing 5-4 to the eventual winner Peter Wright in 2021-22. I’m pencilling in at least eight sets.

“Crivens, it’s not even 9am here and I’ve already got to change my drawers (or pants as you might call them),” says J.R in Illinois, winning the Guardian prize for First Overshare of 2025. “I really thought Dobey was toast after those wild misses at double to win the match in the seventh set. It’s going to be a long day.”

I’m off for a quick break before MvG v Callan Rydz. Chris Dobey – who has just jumped to No10 in the world and could go as high as No4 if he makes the final – awaits the winner.

That’s a landmark moment in the career of a hugely likeable young player. He was facing quarter-final misery for the third year in a row when Gerwyn Price raced into a 2-0 lead. But Dobey’s scoring got heavier as Price’s doubling went south, and he was cruising to victory when, out of nothing, he missed five match darts. It could have broken Dobey, especially after his defeat to Rob Cross from 4-0 up a year ago. It probably should have broken him. But he came back to break Price again and finish the match with two double 18s.

Price holds! Dobey 4-3 Price (legs 2-1) First Price’s doubles fell off a cliff; now his trebles have gone the same way. A poor scoring leg from Dobey allows Price to hold on D6, so Dobey will be asked to serve it out.

Dobey breaks! Dobey 4-3 Price (legs 1-0) Dobey misses the bull for 164 to break at the start of set eight. My word, that would have been a palate cleanser. Price lets him off the hook by missing two more darts at double and Dobey shows admirable nerve to hit D8 with his last dart.

The players are back after the break. I have no idea which way this is going.

“I love darts,” says Max Williams. “There’s no sport like it: you’re basically playing yourself over and over again. (Golf must be the closest equivalent?) It’s so simple and yet so psychologically nuanced. Plus there are so few world class athletes I think I could beat in a foot race and 95 per cent of them play darts. They’re real people, people with one incredibly specific skill set that couldn’t be applied in any other field or indeed anywhere else in human history. (Whereas Ben Stokes, say, would’ve made a brilliant gladiator and I can imagine Roger Federer going down a storm at court.)”

I think it’s the most psychologically interesting sport around. It’s like a never-ending penalty shootout, except you’re taking all the penalties, and your own subconscious is the goalkeeper. (I think that’s a bit harsh on darts players by the way – John Part and Wayne Mardle, for example, are possibly the most articulate people I’ve heard when discussing the mental side of sport.)

Gerwyn Price averaged 83.30 in that set, and he won it against the darts. This game.

That is a devastating blow to Chris Dobey, especially in the context of last year; the first two match darts were miles off. Price is arguably the favourite now. Darts, bloody hell.

Dobey 4-2 Price (legs 2-2) Dobey doesn’t get a shot from 130, allowing Price to return on 95 with a chance to save the match. He misses T19, hitting T7 instead, but he pulls it out of the fire with T18 and a superb D10. Now then.

Dobey holds! Dobey 4-2 Price (legs 2-1) Dobey has been so smooth in the last few sets. He keeps scoring on the heavy side of consistent to leave 40 after 12 on his sown throw. Price is back on 160 when Dobey returns to hit tops first dart.

Dobey needs one more leg to exorcise the demons of New Year’s Day 2024.

Price holds! Dobey 4-2 Price (legs 1-1) Price celebrates sarcastically after hitting his first 180 since the second set. But even with Dobey back on 220, Price misses three at his favourite D12. This is an astonishing collapse on the outer ring. He finally gets the job done on D3, flexes his guns to the crowd and is booed heartily for the first time this afternoon. Maybe the booing will work in his favour for once.

Dobey 4-2 Price (legs 1-0) The crowd are on Dobey’s side but, unlike in previous years, they haven’t been particularly unfair to Price. He has just fallen apart on the doubles, a recurring problem in recent years.

Dobey starts set seven with a 12-dart hold, his sixth leg on the spin; he needs two more to reach his first World Championship semi-final.

Dobey 3-2 Price (legs 2-0) Dobey misses the bull for 167. Price can only leave 112 from 170, and Dobey is up to hit D8 for his fourth straight leg. Gerwyn Price is in all sorts.

Dobey breaks! Dobey 3-2 Price (legs 1-0) As frustrated as Price will be, the match is still on throw. But Price is an open book and he is starting to look haunted by the ghosts of Ally Pally past. He needs a big moment, a huge finish or some such, to reverse the momentum – because he is in all sorts of trouble.

Price misses eight darts at double, some by a distance, and is broken by Dobey, who missed four himself. That mildly shambolic leg might just be the most important of the match.

Fifth set stats

• Average Dobey 98.16, Price 93.57

• Doubles Dobey 37.5, Price 25%

• 180s Dobey 2-0 Price

Dobey breaks back again! Dobey 2-2 Price (legs 2-2) “A break is only a break if you hold,” says John Part, and Price is really struggling to do that.

Both men are down to 170 – but Dobey is first there, against the darts, and misses the bull for the big fish. No matter: he returns to complete a 14-darter and will now throw for the set!

Price breaks again! Dobey 2-2 Price (legs 1-2) Price’s scoring remains outstanding. A 171 leaves him on 100 after nine against the darts, and this time he hits tops for a superb 11-dart break. That’s despite Dobey hitting two 180s in the leg, on his own throw.

Dobey breaks back! Dobey 2-2 Price (legs 1-1) Dobey can’t get a shot from 120 for a break. Price returns on 35, misses his beloved D12 by a mile – and then misses D6 as well. This is turning into a huge problem for Price, and Dobey punishes him on D10.

In the last two sets Price has hit only 3 out of 16 doubles.

Price breaks! Dobey 2-2 Price (legs 0-1) More double woes for Price, who leaves 40 after 12 and then misses D20, D10 and D5.

Dobey can’t take out 90 on the bull, so Price returns and eventually wins the leg – a break, lest we forget - on D1. There is no celebration, barely even an acknowledgement.

Price blew a two-set lead against Jonny Clayton and a three-set lead against Joe Cullen before coming again to win both games. Dobey has come from behind against Josh Rock and Kevin Doets. In short, it’s anyone’s game, and they’re back on stage. Dobey has the throw in this fifth set.

Price’s doubles are again becoming a problem. He hit 100 per cent in the first set, but since then he’s down to 25 per cent, six out of 24. Overall Dobey is at 47 per cent to Price’s 33. The averages show that Price is scoring more consistently:

• Dobey 97.84

• Price 99.68

Dobey 1-2 Price (legs 2-2) Those missed chances in the first leg of this set have hurt Dobey, whose scoring has regressed a little. But he whacks in a bullseye to hold crucially with Price waiting on 76!

This is a huge deciding leg: 2-2 or 1-3, nothing inbetween.

Dobey 1-2 Price (legs 1-2) A comfortable hold – 15 darts, Dobey back on 188 – takes Price to within a leg of a 3-1 lead.

Dobey 1-2 Price (legs 1-1) This pace of this game is dizzying, the scoring part anyway. Both players miss the bull for a 12-darter, then miss two at double on their next visit. Dobey holds crucially on double 2.

In this set they’ve hit 2/13 on the doubles between them.

Dobey 1-2 Price (legs 0-1) This is a really good spell for Dobey, who takes control on the Price throw at the start of the fourth set. He leaves 30 after 12, with Price on 112. Price has one dart at tops but pulls it slightly low.

Dobey gives him another chance by missing D15 on the inside and then D4. This is getting very nervy on the doubles. Price recovers from a missed dart at D10 and a bounce out (though it wasn’t going in and might have done him a favour) to hit D10 with his last dart. That’s the cue for the biggest COMANNNNNNNNNN yet. Last-dart-in-hand doubles are a window into the soul of a darts player; Price is hitting plenty today.

Dobey 0-2 Price (legs 2-1) Dobey’s scoring has been much better since the second break. He hits another 180, his sixth of the match, and is down to a double after 10 darts. Dobey misses two at D14 but Price is miles back so he can return for a 13-darter.

Dobey 0-2 Price (legs 1-1) Dobey starts with a 180 against the darts but Price’s consistency keeps him at arm’s length. After 12 darts Price is on 40, Dobey 42. Price misses D20, then D10 – but he growls with delight after pinning D5.

Dobey 0-2 Price (legs 1-0) This is the dictionary definition of a must-win set for Dobey, who has the throw. Price puts him under serious pressure by leaving 36 after 12; Dobey is up to it and hits D10, last dart in hand, to take out 80. Sheesh he needed that.

Doubles percentage so far Dobey 60-38 Price.

Dobey 0-1 Price (legs 1-2) That will worry Price because doubles have been his biggest problem at this tournament, and in the last few years. More heavy scoring gives him plenty of time on his own throw – and he needs it. After missing three, he returns to hit D10 with Dobey back on 125.

Dobey 0-1 Price (legs 1-1) Another 180, his fourth in as many legs, gives Price control of the leg against the darts. But for the first time he starts playing silly buggers on the doubles, missing four all round the board, and Dobey holds on D12. That was a steal.

Dobey 0-1 Price (legs 0-1) Price holds throw at the start of the second set. He left tops after 12, and though Dobey hit a 180 to leave D1, Price pinned tops at the second attempt. He’s flying here.

Dobey 0-0 Price (legs 2-2) Price rams in his first 180; Dobey responds in kind. Dobey has a look at 164, with Price waiting on tops – he gets the first T19 but the second deflects into the 3.

Price hits tops for a 13-darter and roars ‘COMANNNNNNNNNNN!’ in the familiar style.

Dobey 0-0 Price (legs 2-1) So far both players have been very comfortable on their own throw. Dobey hits his second 180 en route to a 15-darter, sealed on D8. He needs to start well down there after a shocker on D16 and D8 against Kevin Doets.

Dobey 0-0 Price (legs 1-1) An equally comfortable leg for Price, who nails 128 for a 12-darter with Dobey miles behind.

Dobey 0-0 Price (legs 1-0) Dobey starts the match with a 180, and why not. Price can only respond with 40 and Dobey maintains a big lead throughout the leg. He pins D10 for a 14-darter with Price back on 235.

The walk-ons

Gerwyn Price is booed even before his name is announced by John McDonald. It’s pantomime stuff, at least for the time being, and he is cheered when he applauds the crowd after reaching the stage. I really hope this doesn’t descend. Just let the best player win FFS.

Right, it’s time for action. Best of nine sets; Chris will throw first. Game on!

The head-to-head record is Price 14-1 Dobey, which might be a factor if the game gets tight. The exciting thing for both players, as they have just said in their pre-match interviews, is that they’ve been nowhere near their best so far. Today’s the day to extract everything from the tank. (And tomorrow, and Friday if all goes to plan.)

Dobey has won the bull and will throw first. That could be important. I know Dobey came from behind to beat Josh Rock and Kevin Doets but Price can be a particularly fearsome front-runner.

Dobey v Price

This is a cracking hors d’oeuvre between two heavy scorers. Both have unfinished business at Ally Pally. Dobey has been beaten traumatically in the quarter-finals in the last tw0 years: 5-0 by Michael van Gerwen in 2022-23 and then, even worse, 5-4 by Rob Cross last year after being 4-0 ahead.

Price was champion in 2020-21 – but it’s no coincidence that this was during Covid and Alexandra Palace was empty. Price’s hate-hate relationship with the crowd peaked when he started wearing headphones mid-match during a quarter-final defeat to Gabriel Clemens two years ago. Though nowhere near his awesome best of 2019-21, he has played well this year and eliminated some really tough opponents in Joe Cullen and Jonny Clayton.

You can rely on both to score heavily so it will come down to doubles, which have been a problem for Dobey (31 per cent) and Price (34 per cent) all tournament. Dobey missed 45 darts at double in his last 16 win over Kevin Doets. But he won, so he’s doing something right. This should be a cracker.