Michael van Gerwen hits back at Dimitri Van den Bergh’s frustration over standing too close to him

Michael van Gerwen hit back at claims he was standing too close to his Belgian opponent Dimitri Van den Bergh throughout their PDC World Championship semi-final – which he received 6-0. 

The thrashing despatched the Dutch nice into Tuesday’s showpiece closing, the place he’ll face a rematch with England No.1 Michael Smith, who he beat within the closing 4 years in the past.   

But whereas Smith’s earlier 6-2 victory over Germany’s Gabriel Clemens handed with out incident, van Gerwen briefly clashed together with his foe within the second semi-final. 

Michael van Gerwen is thru to his sixth PDC World Championship closing after 6-0 victory

Belgian opponent Dimitri Van den Bergh felt the Dutch No.1 was standing too close to him

Van den Bergh accused his opponent of encroaching on the oche whereas he was throwing. However, the Dutchman confirmed there was solely room for him on the stage.

He instantly threw a 170 checkout and went on to dominate, ending with a mean of 108.28 to make himself an enormous favorite to win the title for a fourth time.

Speaking to Sky Sports in regards to the conflict with the Belgian after the match, van Gerwen mentioned: ‘I do not actually know what it was all about. You have to focus your self in the direction of your individual recreation and that is precisely what I did. 

‘Games can get tense, however you want to focus your self. That’s precisely what I did. 

‘He in all probability mentioned I used to be stamping, however he was shedding the sport, so he had to say one thing.’ 

England’s No. 1 Michael Smith took the opening semi 6-2 in opposition to his German opponent

In Monday’s opening semi-final, Smith beat Clemens 6-2. Smith twice went in entrance, just for the primary ever German semi-finalist at World Championship degree to draw back equal, first to 1-1 after which to 2-2.

However, England’s main darts participant took management of the remainder of the encounter, profitable the following 4 units to make it to Tuesday’s closing at Alexandra Palace. 

He threw 19 180s and took out 5 100-plus finishes, together with an imposing 161, to see off Clemens – who made historical past when he beat Gerwyn Price in Sunday’s shock quarter-final. The Welshman wore ear defenders as he tried in useless to block out an antagonistic crowd. 

Gabriel Clemens was the primary German to make the PDC World Championship semi-final stage

‘Bullyboy’ Smith was runner-up in 2019 and 2022, however is dreaming of glory once more.

His performances in his two earlier finals might have been described as “it’s good but it’s not right” – a line made well-known by ITV’s basic gameshow Catchphrase, one thing Smith declared himself to be a fan of throughout his post-match debrief with Sky Sports.

Smith mentioned: ‘I’ll get up tomorrow [Tuesday] and simply do what I’ve been doing, lay in mattress and watch a number of Catchphrases. It has been good. It’s been on about 9 o’clock each morning, it’s the one factor that’s been on at that point.’

Smith arrange a rematch of the 2019 closing, which his Dutch opponent received 7-3.   

Van Gerwen received his third PDC World Championship closing in opposition to Smith in 2019 by a 7-3 rating

The 32-year-old from St Helens in Merseyside had vowed to take “revenge” for that defeat, however that might be an enormous ask given van Gerwen’s present kind.

Van Gerwen has averaged over 100 in each spherical, culminating in 108.28 in opposition to the Belgian, and can be a heavy favorite to add to the titles he received in 2014, 2017 and 2019.

Speaking after his win, and looking out forward to the rematch with Smith, the Dutchman himself mentioned: ‘He will not be going to cease me, nobody goes to cease me. I really feel too good for that, I really feel snug and I’m taking part in some good darts.

‘It feels phenomenal, to play the sport I performed tonight it feels phenomenal. I gave it every little thing and I’m taking part in out of my pores and skin at the second. It prices a lot vitality however I’m in a position to do it, that is crucial factor. It feels phenomenal.’