Saturday 8 October 2016 06:49, UK
Michael van Gerwen will meet Gary Anderson in Saturday's World Grand Prix final after impressive semi-final displays in Dublin.
After the numbers of seeds sent scattering early in the week, it is the top two in the rankings who made it through to the prestigious double-to-start tournament final, Anderson chasing a first Grand Prix crown and MVG chasing a third.
Van Gerwen was given the tougher test, coming through a thriller against Dave Chisnall to win 4-2, while Anderson weathered an early Raymond van Barneveld flourish to see off the Dutchman 4-1 and set up a mouthwatering Dublin showdown.
Amazingly, Anderson and Van Gerwen have never met in a PDC ranking final. Anderson did come out on top when they met in the Premier League final a couple of years ago and if the pair reproduce their semi-final form, it promises to be a cracking final which you can see on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30pm on Saturday.
Van Gerwen was the first man to advance to the final, and having been given a couple of scares along the way by Steve Beaton and Simon Whitlock, he survived his toughest test against an inspired Chisnall.
The man from St Helens reached the final in 2013, having beaten Van Gerwen in the quarter-final but the early signs looked ominous as the world number one chalked up the first set in no time, averaging 114 to set a frightening pace.
But Chisnall hit back to level the match and followed up with a brilliant display in the third set as MVG uncharacteristically struggled to find doubles at the start and end of the legs, Chizzy was ruthless in sinking his chances to lead 2-1.
When Chisnall led 2-1 in the fourth set, Van Gerwen looked set for a stiff test but the world number one went into overdrive, a brilliant 10-dart leg sealing a comeback that took the leg and levelled the set.
Van Gerwen went through the gears to take the fifth set without losing a leg and the Dutchman fought back from 2-0 down in the sixth to clinch his place in a third successive World Grand Prix final and fourth in the last five years.
The 27-year-old has already claimed the UK Open, the Premier League and the World Matchplay this season and, having lost to Robert Thornton in last year's Dublin final, he will be keen to make amends and add to the titles he won in 2012 and 2014 on the Emerald Isle.
In his way will be another Scot in the shape of Gary Anderson, who had already matched his best ever showing in the Grand Prix by reaching the last four, and he went one better by sinking Van Barneveld who could not match the standards he had set throughout the week.
Barney came into the final as the only man not to drop a set but that changed quickly as a 112 average and a couple of big 100+ check-outs gave the Flying Scotsman the early initiative.
But Barney was not to be overawed. He showed huge character and no little skill to level the match at one set apiece before charging into a 2-0 lead in the crucial third.
An inspired Anderson upped the ante though, as he rallied from 2-0 down to produce 12 and 13 dart legs to go in front once again, a brilliant 104 out-shot knocking the stuffing out of Barney whose shoulders seemed to slump.
Despite a couple of scares, Anderson held firm to move into the final and the man who has won the last two world championship titles will meet the man who is the dominant world number one in what promises to be a memorable Saturday showdown.
You can follow all the action from Saturday's final with our live blog and on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30pm.
