PDC World Darts Championship: Michael van Gerwen beats James Wade to reach final
By Joe Drabble - Twitter: @SkySportsDrabs. Last Updated: December 31, 2012 3:48pm
Michael van Gerwen hit the second nine-darter of this year's PDC World Championship to help book his place in Tuesday's final with a 6-4 victory over James Wade.
The Dutchman produced the dream leg during a remarkable fifth set which saw him throw 17 perfect darts and fall narrowly short of becoming the first man to register back-to-back nine-darters.
"It's not about nine-darters, it's about winning games and I'm delighted to do that."
Michael van Gerwen
Wade, somehow, won that set, however a below-par 87 average throughout the contest was never going to be enough to see the left-hander reach his first ever World Championship final.
Van Gerwen threw 14 of the 15 match 180s and will next face 15-time world champion Phil Taylor in the final on New Year's Day.
Wade, who had won his seven previous meetings against the 23-year-old, took the first set before a nine-leg blitz put Van Gerwen 3-1 ahead.
A speedy Van Gerwen victory looked a certainty at that stage, however world No.3 Wade showed admirable spirit to battle back amidst the madness of the Dutchman's 17 perfect darts and level the match.
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The Aldershot thrower had chances in the seventh set, too, but Van Gerwen came through it before back-to-back 13-dart legs helped move him one set from the final.
Wade rallied in the ninth, but Van Gerwen dashed any hopes of the need for a deciding set by holding on throw throughout the 10th.
Speaking afterwards, Van Gerwen told Sky Sports: "It was a very difficult game for me because I haven't beaten him (Wade) before on TV and it was great to do it in a tournament like this.
"It's not about nine-darters, it's about winning games and I'm delighted to do that."
