Michael van Gerwen stays on target for his sixth World Grand Prix title with a tirade of tungsten hitting to dismantle outdated foe Peter Wright, whereas Nathan Aspinall dethrones Gerwyn Price from his place as world No 1 to achieve Sunday’s remaining in Leicester
Last Updated: 09/10/22 12:55am
Watch the highest checkouts from semi-finals night time on the World Grand Prix in Leicester as Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen reached the ultimate
Watch the highest checkouts from semi-finals night time on the World Grand Prix in Leicester as Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen reached the ultimate
Michael van Gerwen put an finish to his confrontation with Peter Wright by demolishing his outdated adversary to set up a showdown with surprise-finalist Nathan Aspinall on the World Grand Prix.
Van Gerwen stormed into the ultimate with a ruthless straight-sets rout of ‘Snakebite’ Wright, dropping only one leg in a one-sided contest.
Aspinall, in the meantime, battled previous 2020 champion Gerwyn Price to earn his first look within the World Grand Prix remaining.
Saturday, October 8 – Results
| Semi-Finals | Nathan Aspinall | 4-2 | Gerwyn Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Wright | 0-4 | Michael van Gerwen |
MVG thrashed Wright within the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix, successful 4-0 and solely dropping one leg!
Wright endured a nightmare from the off as Van Gerwen took out 167 within the sport’s opening leg and stamped his dominance on the tie by successful the primary set with out the world champion having a dart at a ending double.
He additionally completed 94 and 98 to take command in set two, earlier than punishing misses from Wright to double his lead within the tie.
Checkouts of 67 and 54 noticed ‘Mighty Mike’ lengthen his successful streak to eight legs earlier than Wright lastly obtained off the mark by taking out 73 to drag again to 2-1 within the third set.
The Scot, although, paid for lacking his probability to stage the set as Van Gerwen closed out the set to shut in on one other look within the remaining.
He then completed 124 to open the fourth set, double 16 to maneuver 2-0 up and punished additional misses from Wright to seal victory on tops.
Wright confirmed Van Gerwen respect after the Dutchman hit a monstrous 167 end on the bullseye within the first leg of their conflict
“With my performance in the last few days I expected to win, but you still have to do it against a guy like Peter Wright,” mentioned Van Gerwen, who has additionally seen off Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey in Leicester this week.
“He didn’t look well and I don’t know what happened there, but you need to take advantage of that.
“He’s an outstanding participant however he did not flip up tonight and I did the correct issues for myself on the proper second. Early doorways I performed nicely and that gave me confidence.”
Michael van Gerwen on Wright thrashing: ‘For a mediocre player, I’m not doing too bad!’
Van Gerwen has won the Premier League and World Matchplay this year, and has recovered from his own wrist surgery to return to top form and silence his doubters.
“I haven’t got to justify myself,” he added. “Everyone is aware of what I’m able to, and when Michael is there they’re all scared.
“I have to win my games and I hope I can keep performing like this tomorrow as well.
“In successful the Premier League I did not play my A-game, and I did not actually play my A-game within the World Matchplay however I nonetheless received it. Now I believe I’ve performed some first rate darts and I’m actually glad for myself.”
Aspinall ended world No 1 Price’s bid to reach a third successive World Grand Prix final in the first semi-final.
‘The Asp’ started the brighter and landed a 14-darter and a 113 finish as he claimed the opening set 3-1, but Price responded with 121 for a 12-darter on his way to the second set.
However, Aspinall fired in a 13-dart leg as he moved ahead again in the match, before two missed darts at double 16 from Price allowed the Stockport thrower in to land double five as he moved 3-1 up in the tie.
Price flexed his muscles with two massive back-to-back finishes including a 127 checkout on the bull, but despite his big finishes, it was Aspinall who eventually dumped him out
Aspinall then moved to the brink of victory in set five, leading 2-1 before Price levelled, and when the former UK Open and US Darts Masters champion missed a match dart at double 16, the 2020 winner pounced with a 117 checkout to snatch the set and keep his hopes alive.
Price then took out 107 and 127 in successive legs to come from behind to lead in the sixth leg, but missed doubles allowed Aspinall in to level before a 13-darter saw him clinically close out the win.
Nathan Aspinall said reaching the World Grand Prix final ‘means so much’ following his recovery from a serious wrist injury
“To be within the World Grand Prix remaining, I’m completely on cloud 9,” said Aspinall, who landed a clinical 56 per cent of his finishing doubles in the tie.
“It means a lot. I’ve put a lot work in since my harm and labored so exhausting. Finally, I’m again within the remaining of a significant and I’m buzzing.
“I think I should have won the game 4-1 but it wasn’t to be – nerves took their toll on me and Gezzy, when he needed to, took some amazing shots out.
“I believed he was going to kick on and his double tops had been going to begin going, but it surely simply did not occur; I do not know why and I’m grateful that I received.”
Nathan will have to sharpen up, but has he got the game? Yes! He knows that he’s the underdog and he’s been the underdog the whole event but he’s got the belief. He knows what it takes and he knows he’ll probably have to play better tomorrow than he did tonight. The chances he’ll get tomorrow won’t be as many, but all he can do is come up here and try his best. Can he win it? Yes, he can! But he’ll probably have to do what Robert Thornton did in 2015 and that is hit tops in a relentless way and probably have that little bit of luck with Michael van Gerwen missing. I think that’s what probably needs to happen.
Wayne Mardle on Van Gerwen vs Aspinall
Van Gerwen shall be agency favorite going into Sunday’s remaining, with Aspinall the outsider to say the £120,000 prime prize and raise the brand new World Grand Prix trophy on the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
You can watch the World Grand Prix remaining on Sky Sports Arena and Main Event on Sunday, October 9 from 7.30pm.
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