World Matchplay darts: Gerwyn Price's nine-darter helps set up Blackpool final with Michael van Gerwen

Gerwyn Price landed a nine-dart finish to set up a clash against Michael van Gerwen in Sunday’s Betfred World Matchplay final at the Winter Gardens.
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Price landed his fourth nine-darter of 2022 in a 17-11 win over Danny Noppert before van Gerwen produced a late surge to deny 2020 champion Dimitri Van den Bergh, 17-14.

However, it was Price who stole the show on a scintillating night in Blackpool, registering the first nine-darter at this event since Gary Anderson’s 2018 exploits.

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UK Open champion Noppert landed three ton-plus checkouts to threaten a late fightback, but the new world number one completed a convincing victory to seal his spot in a first World Matchplay final.

Gerwyn Price hit a nine-darter during his semi-final win Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDCGerwyn Price hit a nine-darter during his semi-final win Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDC
Gerwyn Price hit a nine-darter during his semi-final win Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDC
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Price seized the early initiative by hitting 180s in consecutive legs to lead 3-2, before registering an 11-dart hold and converting a 107 finish to win the next mini-session by the same scoreline.

The 37-year-old then landed his nine-darter in leg 13, becoming the first player in PDC history to land four TV nine-darters in a calendar year.

Price threatened to repeat the feat in the following leg, opening up with four perfect darts and crashing in two more maximums for an 11-darter, before stretching his advantage to 10-5 moments later.

Michael van Gerwen meets Gerwyn Price in tonight's final Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDCMichael van Gerwen meets Gerwyn Price in tonight's final Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDC
Michael van Gerwen meets Gerwyn Price in tonight's final Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDC
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Noppert responded with a run of three straight legs, only for Price to restore his five-leg buffer

The Welshman continued his charge to move 15-8 ahead, but Noppert preserved his hopes with another three-leg burst in reducing the arrears to 15-11.

However, Price avoided any late drama by posting a 13th 180 to move one leg away before taking out 63 in two darts to cap off a sublime display.

He meets van Gerwen this evening after the two-time winner won the final four legs without reply to edge out Van den Bergh.

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Van den Bergh punished a sloppy start from van Gerwen to race into a 4-1 lead, although the Dutchman responded in emphatic style.

The three-time world champion landed a 10-dart leg to restore parity at 4-4, and while Van den Bergh briefly restored his two-leg lead, he squandered two at double for a 7-4 cushion and van Gerwen capitalised to level once more.

The pair exchanged seven consecutive holds before the Belgian stole a march to establish a 12-9 advantage.

However, Van den Bergh spurned two darts at double to move further clear in leg 22.

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It proved to be an expensive miss with van Gerwen winning four of the next five legs to draw level at 13-13.

Van den Bergh registered a fourth ton-plus finish to retain his slender cushion but was unable to stem the tide in the latter stages.

Despite missing double 11 for a 124 combination, Van Gerwen returned to pin the same target in leg 29 and secure the lead for the first time, before moving one leg away with a 14-dart hold.

The pair traded 180s in a dramatic climax, but after Van den Bergh was unable to clean up a 104 outshot, van Gerwen closed out a 13-dart break to seal his spot in a fourth Blackpool final.

Sunday’s blockbuster clash between Price and Van Gerwen will begin from 9pm, following the inaugural Betfred Women’s World Matchplay taking place earlier in the day.