Four players remain in the reckoning for World Darts Championship glory at the iconic Alexandra Palace, with semi-finals night serving up two fascinating contests.
Rob Cross and Luke Humphries have all the pressure on their shoulders as the only former champion left standing and the three-time major champion whose winning streak continues, although two non-seeds will be vying to become the first unseeded players to reach the final since Simon Whitlock in 2010.
Luke Littler, the 16-year-old darting phenom, and Scott Williams, who showed flamboyance and swagger in conquering Michael van Gerwen, both began their bids in the first round but remain in contention for the sport’s most prestigious slice of silverware.
ROB CROSS VS LUKE LITTLER
Rob Cross will be brimming with confidence following a New Year’s Day comeback that was quite possibly the greatest in World Championship history. Now, the 2018 champion attempts to bring down a fearless teenage sensation in Luke Littler in a fascinating semi-final for the ages.
Cross may be a world champion, a four-time winner of major accolades, the eighth seed for the tournament and have seven years of experience on the professional tour, although 16-year-old Littler is favourite with bookmakers and perhaps that’s justified off the back of the sheer excellence that he’s produced thus far.
Littler has dropped a solitary set in brushing aside Christian Kist, Andrew Gilding, Matt Campbell, Raymond van Barneveld and Brendan Dolan. He’s recorded three ton-plus averages, a barrage of maximums and calmness and composure beyond his years during a debut that can only be described as breathtaking.
He’s recording astronomical numbers that are rivalling the world’s very elite on his debut – Gerwyn Price, for example, only has five ton-plus averages in his World Championship career. He’s producing the standard needed to become world champion and it’s not beyond the realms that he fulfils his childhood dream before even reaching adulthood.
There’s no question marks surrounding the teenager’s undeniable scoring power nor his prowess in the finishing department, although it will be fascinating to watch how Littler fares under pressure. Despite nothing appearing to faze him, Littler has experienced few hard-pressed situations.
Cross certainly won’t wilt in the same way that the majority of Littler’s opponents have thus far, and his epic quarter-final comeback proved that he’s always a danger even from four sets behind. His deadly proficiency in the doubling department proved critical in that resurgence, and could do so again.
Cross referred to his opponent as a ‘breath of fresh air who takes everything in his stride’ earlier in the tournament, and will be well aware of the challenge that awaits him as he attempts to thwart the debutant from emulating his achievement of five years ago.
Littler has been a front runner throughout so dominating the early exchanges appears a necessity on paper for Cross. Should the teenager be allowed to gain momentum in the same way that Dobey was in the quarter-finals, you’d except his calmness and poise to see him over the line.
Prediction: 6-4 Littler
LUKE HUMPHRIES VS SCOTT WILLIAMS
Many expected three-time major champion Luke Humphries to feature in the semi-finals but unseeded Scott Williams has overcome three top ten stars during a fairytale run and ultimately emerged as the annual surprise package that Alexandra Palace conjures up.
Williams pulled off one of the greatest World Championship upsets in the quarter-finals, capitalising on most of Michael van Gerwen’s many mistakes. It was a rather bizarre performance from the three-time champion, although Williams mounted the pressure on his shoulders and was there to clean up when opportunities arose.
The world number 52 revelled in the occasion and showed tremendous composure in the clutch moments. His unrelenting confidence, courageous approach makes him dangerous, especially when the showman in him comes through and the crowd become involved, as does the underdog tag that he has cherished throughout.
Already an extraordinary campaign that has witnessed him break into the world’s top 32, Williams could rocket into the top 16 with another sensational scalp. Ousting the seemingly unbeatable Humphries could guarantee him spots at this year’s World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts.
Nevertheless, Humphries has exploded into life in recent matches and is now producing the form that has seen him pick up three consecutive major accolades. Having pulled off an act of escapology to somehow fend off Ricardo Pietreczko, the world number three has performed somewhere near his brilliant best in beating Joe Cullen and Dave Chisnall.
The unwavering brilliance that Humphries produced in his resounding quarter-final victory was an ominous sign for Williams. He has displayed the grit and determination that major champions possess when needed, although every aspect of the title favourite’s game is now coming together when it truly matters.
Humphries recorded a scintillating 103.50 average, twelve maximums and accurate finishing in a complete quarter-final performance. You have to feel that Williams will require a significant to drop off from the third seed should he stand a chance of reaching the sport’s showpiece match.
Prediction: 6-2 Humphries
