Sunday 26 July 2015 20:17, UK
Michael van Gerwen will be hoping to cry tears of joy in Blackpool tonight following his World Matchplay Darts disappointment a year ago.
The dejected Dutchman was left in tears at the Winter Gardens after losing to Phil Taylor in the 2014 final.
Taylor’s victory denied Van Gerwen his first World Matchplay crown, but the Englishman’s bid for an eighth successive title in Blackpool was ended on Saturday evening when he lost 17-14 to James Wade in the semi-finals.
Wade is the last man apart from Taylor to win the World Matchplay following his triumph in 2007, and now stands in the way of Van Gerwen as he seeks to add the prestigious trophy to his recent World Grand Prix, European Championship, and UK Open successes.
Van Gerwen booked his place in the final by defeating Peter Wright 17-12 in the last four and has now set his sights on Wade.
"In one way it's a bonus but I also wanted to play Phil because revenge would be nice!" he said.
"I'm a big favourite against James but he played phenomenal darts to beat Phil and I have to prepare myself as well as possible because he's a fantastic player.
"I want to use my confidence in the next game and do my own thing and try to beat him. I've never won this tournament and he has, so it's my turn.
"It would be really special to win and I hope I can see myself holding the trophy."
Aldershot-based Wade, the world No 6, will be appearing in his sixth World Matchplay final as he bids to follow up his famous win over Taylor by beating world No 1 Van Gerwen.
He said: "I wanted to play Phil Taylor this week and Michael too, because I'm feeling good and I want to play against the best.
"I've got the self-belief at the moment. I've had hidings from Phil, been up there before and he's punched me all around the stage and normally he beats me and beats me, and this time he didn't have any big punches in him.
"I missed a few match darts and hoped I hadn't messed it up, but it's hard to beat a great player like Phil Taylor – what he's done in darts will go down in history."
Watch Van Gerwen take on Wade live on Sky Sports 1 on Sunday night from 7pm.
