World Darts Championship: Michael van Gerwen to face Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals – Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen and Chris Dobey will meet in the World Darts Championship quarter-finals on New Year’s Day

Michael van Gerwen continued his quest for a fourth World Darts Championship and first since 2019 after easing to victory over fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode on Friday night.

Van Gerwen coasted into the quarter-finals after a 4-1 victory over a below-par Dirk van Duijvenbode with a 100.4 average to set up a meeting against Dobey on New Year’s Day, who had earlier knocked out former champion Rob Cross.

“I feel good and that anything is possible in this World Championship. If I play like this, I am not going to lose,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports’ Emma Paton in the studio.

“Something strange has to happen to me, an off day or whatever, for me not to win my games.”

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Michael van Gerwen said he beat Dirk van Duijvenbode with his ‘B-game’ and says if he continues to play like he is, ‘he won’t lose’

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MVG completed the win with this special 120 checkout to set up a quarter-final clash against Chris Dobey

Van Gerwen produced another strong performance, averaging 100.42 and 43 per cent on the doubles.

He started much the better of the two in the all-Dutch clash and despite a cracking 117 from Van Duijvenbode in the second leg, five costly missed darts at doubles allowed ‘Mighty Mike’ to secure the opener.

‘Aubergenius’ then threw the fourth 170 of the tournament and second of the night to get back into the second set, but after missing his chance to force a deciding leg, Van Gerwen accepted the gift to double his lead with a 100.7 average.

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Van Duijvenbode netted ‘The Big Fish’ during his match against Van Gerwen. It was the second 170 of the night!

Van Duijvenbode closed the gap to one after winning the third 3-1 with an impressive 120.67 set average and despite forcing a fourth-set decider he endured a disastrous scoring leg to allow MVG to help himself to a two-set advantage once again.

The title favourite then breezed through the next to book a meeting with ‘Hollywood’ Dobey thanks to a show-stopping 120 finish.

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Chris Dobey says he’d never felt anything like the nerves he had with his match darts as he secured a 4-2 win over Rob Cross to reach the quarter-finals

Dobey made it through to the quarter-finals at the Worlds for the very first time courtesy of a 4-2 victory over 2018 champion Rob Cross with a 102 average, eight 180s and a stunning 170 checkout.

Having clinched the opener, ‘Voltage’ averaged almost 119 in the next but he didn’t even win a leg. However, Cross composed himself to sweep through the next and reclaim the lead.

Dobey then raised the Ally Pally roof with the biggest finish of the lot – a 170 – as he upped his average to 121.72 in levelling the tie at 2-2.

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Dobey reeled in a magical 170 checkout against Cross to send Ally Pally wild

He edged closer to victory by winning the next 3-1 and he held his nerve in the sixth set on his sixth match dart to seal his spot in the final eight.

Dobey said: “It was 100 per cent [the biggest result of my career]. I finally got over that hurdle so I am delighted, buzzing. Rob threw everything at us. I hit 170s for fun at home so it was due, but 170s mean nothing. It is that winning double that means the most.

“There is no reason I can’t go all the way.”

Former Lakeside champion Stephen Bunting completed the quarter-final line-up by dominating Luke Humphries with a 99.43 average and landing 46 per cent of his doubles.

Bunting took an entertaining opening set 3-1 with the players sharing ton-plus finishes of 121 and 119, and he then pinned a brilliant 127 on his way to a 115.62 average to double his advantage before ‘Cool Hand’ Luke found some form to close the gap.

‘The Bullet’ converted double 3 to restore his two-set cushion and with the world No 5 reeling, Bunting crashed in a 106 to break throw in the opening leg of the fifth set before going on to make it through to a meeting with Michael Smith in a St Helens derby.

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Stephen Bunting says he’s a danger to anyone in this tournament after an impressive 4-1 win over Luke Humphries

Wins for Smith & Dimi as Clemens makes history at The Palace

Michael Smith swept aside Joe Cullen to cruise into the quarter-finals

Smith fired in an imperious display to storm through to the last eight with a 4-1 win against Masters champion Joe Cullen.

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Watch Cullen nail this magnificent 153 checkout, which even Smith applauded

“I finally turned up and it felt good,” declared Smith, who averaged 103, landed ten 180s and converted 40 per cent of his attempts at double.

“I think the first set was important. Being 1-0 down against Joe could have been a big game-changer, and I knew I couldn’t afford to throw sets away.

“I want to play the best players, I want to beat the best players and I want to show how far my game has come, and winning this title would mean everything.”

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‘Bully Boy’ said he had to ‘dig deep’ to defeat Cullen despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise

Elsewhere, Gabriel Clemens made history with a resounding 4-1 success against Dundee firefighter Alan Soutar, to become the first German player to reach the quarter-finals at the Worlds.

The ‘German Giant’ will next face a huge test against world No 1 Gerwyn Price on New Year’s Day.

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Clemens took out this huge 148 on his way to a comfortable victory against Soutar

“He will be the favourite, but I’ve had three good games on the stage with him and I’ve beaten him before so it’s about taking your chance,” said the 39-year-old former locksmith.

“I hope I can put some pressure on him. It’s not easy to play against the world No 1. This is my first time playing in the quarter-finals of the Worlds so I hope I can give him a good game and maybe I can win, why not!?”

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Van den Bergh proved too good for fellow Belgian Kim Huybrechts

Dimitri Van den Bergh secured a place in his third quarter-final here after producing a demolition job to defeat his Belgian World Cup partner Kim Huybrechts in straight sets.

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Wayne Mardle says Smith made his win over Cullen look ‘relatively easy’, with Mark Webster saying the St Helens thrower is capable of going all the way…

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Watch a round-up of the action from an entertaining afternoon session

New Year’s Day at Ally Pally

Michael van Gerwen headlines on New Year’s Day at Alexandra Palace as he continues his insatiable bid for a fourth world crown

Welshman Gerwyn Price will take on German No 1 Gabriel Clemens on quarter-finals day at Alexandra Palace with all matches now the best of nine sets.

Jonny Clayton battles ‘The DreamMaker’ Dimitri Van den Bergh, while Grand Slam of Darts champion Michael Smith faces Stephen Bunting in a local derby.

Firm favourite Michael van Gerwen then continues his quest for a fourth World title when he goes up against ‘Hollywood’ Chris Dobey.

The semi-finals and final take place on January 2-3.

Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts – all the way through to the final on January 3.