World Darts Championship: Underdog James Wade worth a punt to win first title?
- Joe Hewlett
- 2 January 2022
Peter Wright is the bookies favourite to win the title for a second time and is expected to play Michael Smith...
We are nearly there.
After three nine dart finishes, big names bowing out to COVID-19 and Gerwyn Price eliminated, we are close to crowning a new world champion.
Tonight the semi-finals take place at the Alexandra Palace but the question is, who will advance into the final?
Here, we take a look at the latest odds.
Michael Smith vs James Wade
The momentum is with Michael Smith after defeating World No.1 Gerwyn Price in an exhilarating contest.
The Englishman won 5-4 to progress into the last four and is aiming to compete in his second final having previously finished runner-up to Michael van Gerwin in 2018.
He is taking on James Wade, who will make a fourth World Championship semi-final appearance and his first in nine years.
Wade, seeded at five for the tournament, has lost only one set on his way to the semi-finals, in his round two win over Maik Kuivenhoven.
Despite his form, the bookies are backing Smith to overcome Wade, who is a huge underdog to prevail.
Peter Wright vs Gary Anderson
An all-Scottish clash between two former world champions. Wright - who won the 2020 title - is up against a two-time winner who finished runner-up to Gerwyn Price last year.
In the opening match of Saturday's evening session at Alexandra Palace, Wright ended the run of debutant Callan Rydz as he fought back from 3-1 down to progress on a final set tie-break.
Rydz, 23, had put out world number 10 Nathan Aspinall earlier in the tournament - and looked on course for another upset following a nerveless opening of quality finishing.
However, Wright, champion in 2020, showed all of his big match experience to twice level the contest when looking on the brink of defeat before edging the tie-break deciding set 4-2.
Gary Anderson kept alive his dreams of a third world title after beating Luke Humphries 5-2 to reach the last four for the seventh time.
Scotland's Anderson, champion in both 2015 and 2016, averaged 96, hit eight 180s and produced four ton finishes - including a 148 checkout.
Anderson, who has struggled with a back injury for much of the year, will play compatriot and good friend Wright for a shot at a second successive appearance in the final.
The bookies fancy Wright to edge out Anderson and play Michael Smith in the final.
