With Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith has already thrown out two title favorites. The “Bully Boy” is in top shape. Now he meets compatriot James Wade in the semifinals.
The Darts World Cup in London is about to end. There are only three more matches left. The first takes place between two Englishmen: James Wade and Michael Smith. Both are still without a World Cup title, Wade even without participation in the finals, Smith failed in 2019 to Michael van Gerwen. Now they decide among themselves who gets the first ticket for the final.
Michael Smith vs. James Wade 6: 3 (3: 2, 3: 1, 2: 3, 3: 2, 3: 1, 3: 0, 1: 3, 2: 3, 3: 1)
Set 9 – THAT’S THE VICTORY! Michael Smith, the “Bully Boy”, reached the final with an average of over 100. What a great break at the end. 3: 1
Set 9 – Smith gets his own throwback again. Now he can get the win. 2: 1
Set 9 – Ouch, James Wade! He does not make a 20 finish and Smith has the break chance. But the “Bully Boy” just can’t take advantage of “Tops”. 1: 1
Set 9 – Smith is now on fire, this has to be his set. And in the first leg he stays calm and takes the lead. The new flights that he put up during the break bring him luck. 1-0
Set 8 – The “Deciding Leg” could bring victory for Smith. But Wade does not allow a break. “The Machine” is back in the match. 2: 3
Set 8 – Now Wade makes a few mistakes again, while Smith scores continuously. He manages the finish over the double 6 with ease. 2: 2
Set 8 – Wade gets a little stronger here, while Smith loses his grip a bit. 1: 2
Set 8 – Wade has the break chance after a 180, but briefly wobbles in the scoring. However, because Smith cannot score, Wade is in the finishing area earlier – and delivers. 1: 1
Set 8 – Wade has kicked off in the eighth set, but Smith answers directly with a 180. Wade almost manages a 144 finish, but just misses the double 12. Smith remains calm and accurate. 1-0
Set 7 – Well, it works! Wade actually throws a 160 checkout. With that he gets the set and has three legs in a row. 1: 3
Set 7 – The answer is: yes. Wade gets the break and shortens it. 1: 2
Set 7 – After seven legs for Smith in a row, Wade can break this streak. Is he coming back here again? 1: 1
Set 7 – It’s the usual picture. Smith has a good scoring, Wade doesn’t. “The Machine” almost waves it away. Wade will probably regret the macho cheers after winning the set. 1-0
Set 6 – And when Wade throws a 140, Smith answers with a 180. Wade then fails due to the pressure and only throws a 45. Smith can play from the front and get another break. Again he does it. 3-0
Set 6 – What the “Bully Boy” is playing here today is really amazing. An average of over 103. Wade just can’t keep up. There are just not enough triples out of the four in the world. 2-0
Set 6 – Smith has another break chance with 130 points – and does it again. Bull’s Eye. 1-0
Set 5 – Wade shows nerves. Twice he fails because of what he is actually so good at: checkouts. Despite bad scorings, Smith gets a chance to go for the set dart – and uses it. 3: 1
Set 5 – Smith has to cope with pressure when throwing his own ball, because Wade hits a couple of triples. He can’t get a 45 finish. Wade can get the next break, has 80 left. But he wants to solve it over two “tops” and puts the first dart out of bounds. The second lands in the 20, the break chance is gone. Smith takes advantage of that. 2: 1
Set 5 – There’s the next break. Wade’s scoring is miserable while Smith throws a 180. 1: 1
Set 5 – Once again, Smith’s scoring is slightly better than Wade’s, even if Wade is catching up. However, Smith missed the 110 finish. Wade has the break chance – and uses it via the “Bull’s Eye”. 0: 1
Set 4 – Ouch, James Wade! In the “Deciding Leg” of all places, “The Machine” sucks. Smith can play from the front and faces a 54th Wade has to make the Shanghai finish (120) – and fails. Smith takes advantage of that and gets the set. 3: 2
Set 4 – Smith doesn’t want to give up this set. On his own recording, he throws another 180 and hardly gives Wade a chance to catch up. 2: 2
Set 4 – It won’t be a clean set for Wade, Smith is there and shortens it to 1: 2. 1: 2
Set 4 – Smith shows his nerve for the first time. A finish over the double 5 failed him three times, Wade took advantage of that and secured the break. 0: 2
Set 4 – If he throws himself at it, Wade continues where he left off. The momentum is on his side. 0: 1
Set 3 – What a leg! Now Wade is there – and how! So far, Smith has always had the edge in the end, he has not allowed a break. But a 121 finish makes the number four in the world great and poses in a macho pose in front of the audience. There is applause and boos as “Ally Pally” cooks. 2: 3
Set 3 – For Wade it would have been almost 3-0. His high finish fails, Smith has the chance to break, but fails. 2: 2
Set 3 – After all, Wade doesn’t allow a break for the time being. His scoring has gotten better, but it still doesn’t match what Smith is throwing here. The finish over the double 8 works. 2: 1
Set 3 – Wade is under a lot of pressure here, he shouldn’t allow a 0: 3. But he needs a break for that. He couldn’t do that in the first leg because Smith is way too strong. 1-0
Set 2 – With his own throw, Smith is scoring with a certain degree of naturalness, which allows him a 114 finish. The “Bully Boy” also gets the second sentence. 3: 1
Set 2 – Smith has five perfect darts – and still it’s not enough. Because Wade also has a strong scoring. 2: 1
Set 2 – Even when attacking himself, Smith is strong. The “Bully Boy” faces the finish over “Tops” – and delivers. 2-0
Set 2 – Smith grabs the break! Wade only comes to the checkout area late and has to make a high finish, but fails. Smith takes advantage of that. 1-0
Set 1 – Again there is no break. Smith grabs the first set. The “Ally Pally” roars its name. It’s slowly boiling here. 3: 2
Set 1 – Wade just doesn’t have enough triple. But just as Smith could break a break, Wade throws a 180 and Smith a 29. Wade stays freezing in the checkout. 2: 2
Set 1 – Smith is definitely better at scoring, even hits a 180. The “Bully Boy” is therefore earlier in the finish area – and delivers. 2: 1
Set 1 – Wade almost manages a 142 finish, then only has to hit the double 10, but fails three times. Smith has the break chance but misses it. On the second attempt, Wade is freezing. 1: 1
Set 1 – Smith has kick-off in the first leg and immediately finds the treble, while Wade still struggles to get a good scoring. Smith faces a 28 and hits double 14 on his first try. 1-0.
8:46 pm – So there are the players! The first set will begin in a few minutes.
8:44 pm – The quarter-finals between the two could hardly have been more different. Smith dueled Gerwyn Price to the bitter end, Wade confidently defeated Mervyn King 5-0.
8:41 pm – By the way, Wade is also the only left-hander of the four semi-finalists.
8:38 pm – Incidentally, the balance sheet clearly speaks in favor of Wade. The number four in the world has won 17 out of 21 duels.
8:32 pm – It’s about to start at “Ally Pally”. The “Bully Boy” meets “The Machine”.
8:07 pm – At around 8:30 pm it starts at the “Ally Pally”. The bookmakers see Michael Smith as a clear favorite. But: In the “Order of Merit”, the world rankings in darts, Wade is fourth, Smith ninth.
8:00 p.m. – Welcome to the live ticker for the Darts World Cup semi-finals between Michael Smith and James Wade!
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