Phil Taylor, remains on course to claim his 16th Ladbrokes World Championship title after beating Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 in their semi-final at Alexandra Palace last night.
Taylor won six of the game’s first seven legs to take a two-set lead, and although van Barneveld took the third set, it was the Stoke ace who pulled clear to win the next three in ruthless fashion and move 5-1 up.
However, two missed match darts at tops in the seventh set allowed van Barneveld to hit back before the five-time World Champion then took the next two sets to raise hopes of completing an amazing fightback.
Taylor, though, regained his range to take the tenth set 3-1 and secure his spot in the decider.
“It’s brilliant to be through and I’m relieved,” said Taylor. “If Raymond had won that tenth set to get back to five-all he might have beaten me, and I put everything I could into that set.
“The two darts at double top to win the match knocked me back for a couple of sets but they were right on the wire. Raymond hit some great doubles with his last dart and I’m over the moon to be into the final.
“Michael’s playing some of the best darts I’ve ever seen from anybody in my career. At the minute he’s phenomenal and it’s going to take every ounce of energy and concentration to beat him.”
Taylor also moved to calm any suggestions of a rift with van Barneveld following their semi-final after the pair exchanged words on stage following a misunderstanding as they shook hands at the end of the game.
“He was gutted to lose and I was over the moon to win, but there’s no animosity between us,” said Taylor. “I’m probably Barney’s biggest fan and I love him to bits.”
Both Taylor and van Gerwen will enjoy a rest day today before returning to Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day to contest the final, where the champion will become the first winner of the Sid Waddell Trophy and a £200,000 first prize.
Taylor remains the favourite to take the title with odds of 8/13 with sponsors Ladbrokes, with van Gerwen a 5/4 chance of lifting his first World Championship crown – while odds of 6/1 are available for a nine-dart finish in the final.