The World Darts Championship has reached its business end as New Year’s Day witnesses the quarter-finals descend on Alexandra Palace, with the eight that remain in the reckoning inching closer to a date with the famous Sid Waddell trophy.
Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross are the only former champions that can add to their world title tallies, with two major champions, two unseeded talents pushing the world’s elite aside and two major runners-up who hope to upset the apple cart.
Ben Hudd provides his preview and predictions ahead of a New Year’s Day extravaganza that is guaranteed to produce fireworks and darting drama.
ROB CROSS VS CHRIS DOBEY
Chris Dobey had been simmering beneath the surface all season but the Masters champion has been reaping the rewards in this tournament. Having posted three ton-plus averages, Dobey has flourished the most so far and recorded incredible numbers against opponents who have produced similar brilliance.
Dobey has managed to make inroads despite being handed an extremely tough draw, showcasing his sensational scoring power in hard-fought wins over William O’Connor and Ross Smith. His whitewash victory over defending champion Michael Smith showed another weapon in his arsenal nonetheless, with his doubling and combination finishes coming good when his scoring waned slightly.
Dobey quipped that his dream would be to parade the Sid Waddell trophy at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light during this weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby, although the world number 17 has three tough tasks to complete before receiving that famous slice of silverware and Rob Cross is first on that list of challenges to overcome.
Cross has yet to be tested to the fullest extent in the same way that Dobey has, brushing aside Thibault Tricole in his opener with a mediocre display before averaging 101.32 and 98.41 in wins over Jeffrey de Graaf and Jonny Clayton. His trickiest challenge came in the shape of the Swede and Cross upped the ante when necessary.
Everything leads to a potential Alexandra Palace blockbuster. Cross has been beaten twice on this year’s ProTour by Dobey with a losing average of more than 110, while Dobey defeated Cross in January’s Masters final to secure the Premier League berth that undoubtedly strengthened his game despite results not suggesting that.
Prediction: 5-3 Dobey
BRENDAN DOLAN VS LUKE LITTLER
Brendan Dolan and Luke Littler have provided two of the most fascinating storylines in the tournament. Dolan has beaten two world champions in successive matches to reach only his second quarter-final, while 16-year-old Littler has been relentless and performed with assurance each time he’s stepped foot on the sport’s biggest stage.
Littler has recorded two averages in excess of the 105 mark in the same campaign, only Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson had done that beforehand. The generational talent has joined illustrious company as an unseeded teenager, who now stands three victories away from the greatest moment in darting history.
The world youth champion has showcased his explosive scoring power throughout, firing in more 180s than anyone else thus far. Raymond van Barneveld held up a fight in the fourth round, averaging 99, although Littler pinned the clutch doubles and showed calmness and composure beyond his years.
Dolan, meanwhile, a quarter-finalist four years ago, has clamoured his way through by dominating the significant moments. Dolan won less legs than both Mickey Mansell and Gerwyn Price, but his timing proved the crucial factor, before the Northern Irishman was rather fortunate against an out-of-sorts Gary Anderson in the fourth round.
Littler will undoubtedly outscore his Northern Irish counterpart, having landed at least one maximum in every set he’s played so far, and you’d expect the teenager to limit the opportunities Dolan receives and seal his safe passage into the semi-finals.
Prediction: 5-2 Littler
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN VS SCOTT WILLIAMS
Despite the headlines being dominated by an emerging teenage superstar, Scott Williams has proved to be the surprise package of this year’s World Championship. There were plenty of darts aficionados with Littler in their quarter-final lineups, but Williams was not someone expected to reach New Year’s Day.
Williams had experienced a troublesome debut season as a professional prior to his second appearance, with a surprise European Tour run sneaking him into the qualifying places, although the Lincolnshire ace has tended to feed off the boisterous Alexandra Palace crowd during a remarkable campaign.
One of the sport’s greatest showmen will have to elevate his game to the peak of his powers to even challenge Michael van Gerwen, who has appeared somewhat unstoppable once again. Van Gerwen reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set for the first time in his career and has barely broken sweat throughout.
Van Gerwen has clocked set averages more than 100 on seven occasions compared to Williams doing so on two occasions. All statistics lead to a rather comfortable MVG victory unless the London crowd become involved and can invigorate the Englishman.
Prediction: 5-1 Van Gerwen
LUKE HUMPHRIES VS DAVE CHISNALL
Luke Humphries never knows when he’s beaten. The three-time major champion appeared to be overcome against Michael van Gerwen in last month’s Players Championship Finals final but prevailed, and his bizarre Alexandra Palace campaign has seen further acts of escapology.
Humphries was two sets behind against both Ricardo Pietreczko and Joe Cullen but somehow found a way in similar style to all the great champions. Cullen spurned two match darts and squandered a golden opportunity to send the pre-tournament favourite packing, with Humphries eventually producing a nerveless tops-tops finish after being overcome by pressure himself.
Chisnall, meanwhile, has performed well in patches and his finishing began to click into gear in his fourth round match, but his level will need to be consistently competent against the world number three. Chisnall remains vulnerable and question marks continue to surround his mettle in major tournaments.
Chisnall came through a deciding leg epic at September’s Hungarian Darts Trophy, winning 8-7 with a 104.82 average. He has had the upper hand against Humphries in European Tour finals this year, winning an additional two, although you’d expect the third seed to emerge victorious in relatively comfortable fashion on this occasion.
Prediction: 5-2 Humphries
