World Darts Championship semi-final tips

We’ll definitely have an England v Scotland final at the World Darts Championship after a gripping set of quarter-final matches left us with the final four at Alexandra Palace. 

Scottish duo Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, both former world champions, will face-off for a place in the final against Michael Smith or James Wade, two talented Englishmen who are among the best players never to win a world title. 

Let’s look at the two semi-finals being played on Sunday in two best of 11-set matches. 

Michael Smith v James Wade 

There’s an argument for Michael Smith having played in (and won) the two best matches of the tournament so far after he followed up his thriller against Jonny Clayton with an epic success over Gerwyn Price in the quarter-final. 

Smith averaged just over 101 and hit 16 180s to see-off defending champion and World No.1 Price 5-4 – despite the Welshman hitting a nine-darter in what was a contest of the highest quality from start to finish. 

The 31-year-old ‘Bully Boy’ has always had the game, but despite making one final at the Alexandra Palace he’s never claimed the world title many feel he should have won by now. The St Helens thrower looks to have a new-found belief this year though as he’s shown by winning two classic encounters of the kind he was so often on the wrong end of here. 

James Wade had a much easier time of things with a 5-0 whitewash over Mervyn King, but he’s a big 3.25 outsider against Smith with the left-hander averaging just 87 for the tournament and having thrown just four 180s in the event. 

If Smith plays like he has then he will win like the 1.38 favourite he is, but ‘The Machine’ Wade is the ultimate match-player and will pounce on any slip-ups. He is a 10-time major winner after all and a strong candidate for best player to have never been world champion. 

Wade has never made a final here after losing all three of his semi-final appearances, but he just loves proving people wrong so will relish the underdog role here. He does need to make a huge step up in scoring though to avoid being blown away by Smith. 

Smith to hit most 180s is almost guaranteed at 1.08 while over 19.5 maximums comes in at 1.9 and is worth backing as Smith could get that many all by himself the way he’s been playing. Wade may make this a bit more of a scrap though than it looks based just on stats. 

Prediction: Smith 6-4

Peter Wright hit 17 maximums in his victory over Callan Ryds

Peter Wright v Gary Anderson

Scotland’s representative in the final will be a previous champion with 2020 winner Peter Wright tackling two-time champion Gary Anderson in the other semi-final. 

World No.2 Wright was given a huge scare by young Callan Rydz in his quarter-final, when his doubles really let him down early on as ‘Snakebite’ played solidly throughout – averaging just under 100 and hitting 17 180s. 

Anderson came back from the dead against Ian White before edging Rob Cross and although his 5-2 win over Luke Humphries looked easy he was hard pushed until the final couple of sets. The two-time champion claims he doesn’t practice but he’s obviously doing something right. 

The Flying Scotsman is a 2.78 outsider here, but this should be a close call given how Anderson elevates his game at Ally Pally. He may be a few points down on Wright’s average and had only 21 maximums to Wright’s 31 but this contest should be close. 

Set play is all about winning the right legs at the right times, and Anderson knows how to get the job done in the semis having made it to the final here five times. Wright is a 1.56 favourite but has lost three of their last four meetings. 

Anderson is also a big price at 3.15 to hit the most 180s in the match, but that may not be the worst bet as he’s made a name for being a prolific maximum hitter. He also holds the records for the most 180s in a single match (22) and at a World Championship (71). 

The line for total 180s in the match here is 22.5 and over is the way you want to go at 1.93 as both men can fill the treble 20 bed with ease – that may be the safest bet in this match. 

Over 9.5 sets is 2.16 and makes sense to back, for a match between two experienced campaigners, who know each other so well and know what it takes to win the title here - this should be a thrilling contest that has the potential to go the full distance. 

Prediction: Wright 6-5 Anderson

Recommended bets

Over 9.5 sets in Wright v Anderson at 2.16

Over 22.5 180s in Wright v Anderson at 1.93

Over 19.5 180s in Smith v Wade at 1.92

Michael Smith to beat James Wade at 1.39