World Championships in London - World champion from England: What the darts semi-finals will bring
The stage now seems to be set for Luke Littler. Following the unexpected retirement of star player Michael van Gerwen, the darts super-talent is suddenly being touted as a top candidate for triumph.
At just 16 years of age, the Englishman has played his way into the limelight like few players before him at London's Alexandra Palace. After the quarter-finals on New Year's Day, it is already clear that the world champion will come from England.
"Wow, I'm in the semi-finals on my debut. I'm delighted to have made it. I deserved it with my performances. Now I'm dreaming. I'm still two games away. I'm definitely thinking about winning the title," said Littler.
The 5:1 win against Brendan Dolan was his fifth clear victory at this tournament. Even against former champion Rob Cross, "The Nuke" is the favorite. However, the 2018 World Champion should start the semi-finals in the evening (from 8.30 pm/DAZN and Sport1) with some tailwind after his 5:4 win against Chris Dobey after trailing 4:0.
In the second semi-final, the year's top player Luke Humphries will meet outsider Scott Williams, who surprisingly defeated van Gerwen 5:3. For Cool Hand Luke, after an excellent season, it's not just about reaching the World Championship final, but also about conquering first place in the world rankings for the first time. If Humphries wins, he will replace the dethroned world champion Michael Smith. If Humphries loses, van Gerwen will jump back to the top despite his quarter-final exit.
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- England has been dominating in the darts scene, with London's Alexandra Palace hosting numerous prestigious tournaments.
- Germany's darts fans will be eagerly awaiting the semi-finals of the World Championships, featuring England's Luke Littler and Luke Humphries from Great Britain.
- Michael van Gerwen's unexpected retirement has opened up opportunities for other players, such as Littler from England and Humphries from Great Britain, in the PDC Darts World Matchplay (darts-wm or WM).
- The Netherlands' Michael Smith lost his title as the world champion this year, paving the way for a new contender from England or Great Britain to claim the crown.
- Scotland's fans, however, will be rooting for outsider Scott Williams in the second semi-final, who had an upset victory over van Gerwen from the Netherlands.
- Luke Littler, the 16-year-old English darts prodigy, has been performing exceptionally well in his debut at London's Alexandra Palace, impressing the international darts community.
- New Year's Day saw a surprise exit for van Gerwen and a clear victory for Littler in the quarter-final, setting the stage for Luke Humphries and Scott Williams in the semi-finals.
- Luke Humphries, the year's top player, will make an appearance at the famous Alexandra Palace in London for the semi-final match against Scott Williams, aiming to secure the World Championship title and take over the world rankings from Michael Smith.
Source: www.stern.de
