Luke Littler is just one match away from reaching the World Darts Championship final, with Stephen Bunting standing in his way.
Littler, 17, produced an impressive performance to knock out Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day.
He now faces Bunting, who knocked out two-time champion Peter Wright in his last match.
Wright, who had ousted Luke Humphries earlier, had expressed his ability to challenge the best players.
However, Bunting put paid to those ambitions by setting up a showdown with last year’s beaten finalist Littler.
For Littler, this year brings added pressure. He acknowledges that expectations are higher now compared to his breakthrough last season.
Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship on Wednesday.
Recap and reaction from an exciting quarter-final day at Ally Pally! 📝👇
– PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2025
“Obviously Michael (van Gerwen) has been there a few times, Chris is on his first, I’m on my second, and I know Bunting, I think, is on his first or second, so that is going to be a good night,” Littler said.
“I’ve felt the best I can in this tournament so far, so hopefully I can regroup and come back and maybe it’ll be the same feeling.
“We all know the expectations, and it’s very different from last year. But tonight I felt better and hopefully I can regroup and feel like I did on that stage.
Van Gerwen fuels up ahead of Dobey showdown
Michael van Gerwen will kick off Thursday’s semi-final action against Chris Dobey.
The Dutchman, a three-time world champion, was quick to dismiss Dobey’s recent pre-match comments.
Dobey had claimed that facing Van Gerwen in the last four could be “a bit easier” than playing fellow Bedlington native Callan Rydz. Van Gerwen, who beat Rydz in the previous round, didn’t hesitate to respond.
New Year’s Day at the Palace. ✅#WCDarts pic.twitter.com/SubbcdffE0
– PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2025
“People, when they win, say a lot of stupid things,” Van Gerwen said.
“Dobey is a very interesting player to play against because he can produce something really good. So you always have to make sure you keep your own fire going and everything because he’s a good player.
Van Gerwen is aiming for his fourth world title and will be competing in his ninth World Championship semi-final. However, it has been a few years since he last tasted victory at Alexandra Palace, with his last triumph coming in 2019.
Notably, 2024 marked the first year since 2011 in which Van Gerwen failed to win a televised tournament. Asked about regaining the title of “King of the Palace”, he remained confident but realistic.
“That would be nice. People probably know the answer, but no, it’s a tough question. It’s an uphill battle, but I love fighting battles, and as long as I continue to believe in my own abilities, the king will return.
Thursday evening program
The semi-final begins at 7.30pm, with Van Gerwen taking on Dobey before Littler takes on Bunting in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the penultimate stage of the World Darts Championship.
Michael van Gerwen vs. Chris Dobey
Luke Littler vs. Stephen Bunting
The Luke Littler fan club had some familiar faces tonight… ☢️ pic.twitter.com/3ZM4hkEdRi
– PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2025
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK.
You can watch the semi-finals on Sky Sports Darts and Main Event from 7:30 p.m. GMT.
Predictions
With only four players left in the tournament, everyone can now play Ally Pally.
In the first match of the evening, Van Gerwen is the favorite. The Dutchman is playing his best darts of the year, but Dobey is certainly no pushover.
If Van Gerwen manages to take the lead with a good start, it is very difficult to imagine his challenger coming back and beating him.
As for the main event, Littler will feel the pressure more than ever. He is a fan favorite, just like Bunting. The crowd will be cheering for both sides on this card.
The 17-year-old was sensational against Aspinall, making the quarters look easy. He’s favorite to advance to another final, but if he’s even slightly off his game, Bunting will be there to pounce.
