Michael van Gerwen stays on course for his sixth World Grand Prix title with a flurry of tungsten strikes to dismantle old foe Peter Wright, while Nathan Aspinall dethrones Gerwyn Price from his position as World No.1 to reach Sunday’s final in Leicester.
Last update: 10/09/22 12:55 am
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See the best records from the semi-final night at the World Grand Prix in Leicester as Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen reached the final
See the best records from the semi-final night at the World Grand Prix in Leicester as Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen reached the final
Michael van Gerwen put an end to his war of words with Peter Wright by demolishing his old adversary to set up a showdown with surprise finalist Nathan Aspinall at the World Grand Prix.
Van Gerwen stormed into the final with a ruthless straight-set win over ‘Snakebite’ Wright, losing just one leg in a one-sided contest.
Meanwhile, Aspinall battled 2020 champion Gerwyn Price to earn his first World Grand Prix Final appearance.
Saturday October 8 – Results
| semifinals | Nathan Aspinall | 4-2 | Gerwyn Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| peter wright | 0-4 | Michael van Gerwen |
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MVG defeated Wright in the World Grand Prix semi-finals, winning 4-0 and losing only one leg!
Wright endured a nightmare from the start as Van Gerwen took out 167 in the game’s opening match and stamped his dominance into the tie by winning the first set without the world champion having a dart in a double ending.
He also finished 94 and 98 to take command in the second set, before punishing errors from Wright to double his lead in the tie.
Payouts of 67 and 54 saw ‘Mighty Mike’ extend his winning streak to eight stages before Wright finally came off the mark by serving 73 to fall back to 2-1 in the third set.
However, the Scotsman paid for losing his chance to level the set as Van Gerwen closed out the set to move closer to another appearance in the final.
He then finished 124 to open the fourth set, double 16 to move 2-0 up and punished more errors from Wright to seal victory at the top.
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Wright showed respect for Van Gerwen after the Dutchman posted a monstrous 167 on target in the first leg of their clash.
“With my performance in the last couple of days I expected to win but you still have to do it against a guy like Peter Wright,” said Van Gerwen, who also said goodbye to Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey in Leicester this week. .
“It didn’t look good and I don’t know what happened there, but you have to take advantage of that.
“He’s a phenomenal player, but he didn’t show up tonight and I did the right things for myself at the right time. I played well at the beginning and that gave me confidence.”
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Michael van Gerwen on beating Wright: “For a mediocre player, I’m not doing too bad!”
Van Gerwen has won the Premier League and World Matchplay this year, and has recovered from his own wrist surgery to return to full form and silence his doubters.
“I don’t have to justify myself,” he added. “Everyone knows what I’m capable of, and when Michael is there, everyone is scared.
“I have to win my games and I hope I can keep playing like that tomorrow too.
“In winning the Premier League I didn’t play my A game, and I didn’t really play my A game in World Matchplay, but I still won it. Now I think I’ve played some decent darts and I’m very happy for myself.”
Aspinall ended World No. 1 Price’s bid to reach a third consecutive World Grand Prix Final in the first semi-final.
‘The Asp’ started brighter and landed a 14-dart finish 113 as he claimed the first set 3-1, but Price countered with 121 for a 12-dart on his way to the second set.
However, Aspinall fired a 13-dart leg as he moved further into the match, before two missed darts on Price’s double 16 allowed the Stockport bowler to hit the double five as he advanced 3–1 in the tie.
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Price flexed his muscles with two massive finishes in a row, including a payout of 127 on the bull, but despite his big finishes, it was Aspinall who ultimately put him out.
Aspinall then teetered on the verge of victory in the fifth set, leading 2-1 before Price equalized, and as the former UK Open and US Darts Masters champion pinned and kept his hopes alive.
Price then knocked out 107 and 127 on successive stages to come from behind to lead into stage six, but failed doubles allowed Aspinall to equalize before a dart of 13 saw him clinically close out victory.
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Nathan Aspinall said reaching the World Grand Prix Final “means a lot” after recovering from a serious wrist injury.
“To be in the World Grand Prix Final, I’m absolutely over the moon,” said Aspinall, who posted a clinical 56 per cent of his double finishes in the heat.
“It means a lot. I’ve worked a lot since my injury and I’ve worked really hard. Finally, I’m back in a major final and I’m buzzing.”
“I think I should have won the game 4-1, but it didn’t: my nerves took their toll on me and Gezzy, when he needed to, hit some amazing shots.
“I thought he was going to go ahead and his double tops were going to start but it just didn’t happen, I have no idea why and I’m just thankful I won.”
Nathan will have to improve, but does he have the game? Yes! He knows that he is the underdog and has been the underdog throughout the event, but he has the belief. He knows what it takes and he knows that he’s probably going to have to play better tomorrow than tonight. The opportunities that he will have tomorrow will not be that many, but all he can do is come here and do his best. Will he be able to win it? Yes, he can! But he’s probably going to have to do what Robert Thornton did in 2015 and that’s get to the top in a relentless way and he’s probably going to have a little bit of luck with the absence of Michael van Gerwen. I think that’s probably what has to happen.
Wayne Mardle on Van Gerwen vs. Aspinall
Van Gerwen will be the firm favorite for Sunday’s final, with Aspinall the outsider to claim the £120,000 top prize and lift the new World Grand Prix trophy at Morningside Arena in Leicester.
You can watch the World Grand Prix Final on Sky Sports Arena and Main Event on Sunday 9th October from 7:30pm