Michael van Gerwen secured his place in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay in Blackpool with a determined 16-10 victory over Andrew Gilding. The world number two from the Netherlands overcame a slow start and an early deficit to dominate the latter half of the match.
Van Gerwen initially struggled for rhythm, finding himself 6-3 down against the 53-year-old Gilding. However, he turned the contest around with an eight-leg winning streak, transforming an 8-6 deficit into a commanding 14-8 lead. Van Gerwen’s resurgence included a crucial 136 checkout that shifted the momentum in his favor.
Gilding set the early pace with a 148 checkout in the third leg, the highest of the match, but couldn’t maintain his advantage as Van Gerwen found his stride. Despite Gilding’s late rally, it was too little too late, and Van Gerwen sealed the win with an 80 checkout on double tops.
“Everyone knows to play him [Gilding], it’s tough. He is very slow, and sometimes a bit boring to play,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports. “But what a darts player. You need to always make sure you are on top of your game. I know I can do a lot better.”
Van Gerwen averaged 96.99 and threw over 100-plus 34 times during the match but was frustrated by his double success rate of only 30%. “I missed too many doubles, it was hard. My doubles, I’m not happy with at all but overall I won and that’s the most important thing. In the end, I think I found another gear,” he added.
In the semi-finals, Van Gerwen will face Michael Smith, who convincingly defeated Rob Cross 16-7. Smith built an early 8-2 lead and capitalized on Cross’s frequent missed doubles, totaling 27 missed attempts.
“Rob’s doubles were non-existent early on. If he’s not going to take them, then I will. He was having three darts at doubles and not getting close,” Smith said. “It’s a tough game against Van Gerwen next, so I have to step up.”
