Luke Littler's path to a second successive World Championship semi-final has been nervy at times, but sprinkled with sparks of brilliance.

He posted a record set average of nearly 141 in his opening victory over Ryan Meikle, was taken to a deciding set by Ryan Joyce in round four, but sealed a convincing quarter-final win over Nathan Aspinall.

Stephen Bunting has only dropped a total of four sets en route to the semi-finals.

The Englishman began the event eighth in the world rankings and is provisionally up to fifth.

This picture below has popped up on social media today.

It was taken a few years ago - wonder if anyone thought then that they might meet in a World Championship semi-final?

Image source, Matthew Edgar on X

Both players in our second semi-final are making their second appearance in the last four of the PDC World Championship.

Stephen Bunting lost to Gerwyn Price in the last four in 2021, but he has been all the way at a World Championship before - he won the BDO version of the world title in 2014 before switching to the PDC circuit.

As for 17-year-old Luke Littler, he reached the final on his Ally Pally debut 12 months ago and is one win away from repeating that feat in 2025.

Let's find out who Michael van Gerwen will play in tomorrow's final, shall we?

Michael van Gerwen, speaking to Sky Sports after his semi-final win over Chris Dobey:

"I can be happy with the performance. Of course I wasn't playing as explosive as I was in the last game, but I was efficient. When I had to do things, I did it at the right moment and that's what you have to do if you want to win games.

"I'm here with a mission and a target. You will have ups and downs but today I showed a good mentality. Even when things were not going my way, I was able to produce good stuff at the right moments. That gives me a lot of confidence.

"We're not even close yet, we're still so far away. Tomorrow will be another day and the title is still far away. That's what you have to keep telling yourself because I don't want to make mistakes. I want to keep battling with everything I've got in my body.

"I love what I do, I love performing on this stage. It's my passion, it's my life - after family. I really enjoyed it."

Michael van Gerwen is speaking on stage right now after reaching the final - he says he showed a good mentality and found some good darts at the right moment.

Full quotes to come.

Image source, Reuters

Michael van Gerwen is into his seventh World Championship final and will aim to win his fourth world title on Friday.

He wasn't quite at his best, but he was clinical when he needed to and found some form in what proved to be the final set of the semi-final.

Credit to Chris Dobey - it's been a great run to the last four and he'll be in the top 10 of the world rankings when this tournament is over.

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen has been top of the pops tonight and Chris Dobey has been dancing to his tune.

Michael van Gerwen moves one leg away from the final.

An 82 checkout is finished on double top and he'll have two chances to book his spot in tomorrow's showpiece.

Michael van Gerwen gets the job done eventually to level the set.

Another 180, 180 start to a leg for Michael van Gerwen.

And again the seventh dart misses the treble 20!

And some trouble on the doubles costs the Dutchman, with Chris Dobey taking out 120 for the leg.

What a time to find a 180 and one of your best legs of the match so far.

It's not been vintage Michael van Gerwen by any means, but he's shown flashes of quality at key times and he's within touching distance of a spot in the final.

"Hollywood" needs a Hollywood blockbuster-style comeback to deny him here.

Chris Dobey has a shot at 160 to win the set but the second go at treble 20 is missed.

Michael van Gerwen returns to hit double 18.

Into a deciding leg we go...

Michael van Gerwen almost repeats the trick of earlier in the set, narrowly failing to take out 153 on double 18.

Chris Dobey hits double top to break and he's throwing for the set now.

Not deterred by that wonderful 158 outshot from his opponent in the previous leg, Chris Dobey wraps up a routine hold of throw to level the sixth set.

We'd only had five 180s in the first five sets, but Chris Dobey finds one in the opening leg of the sixth. Can that provide the spark he needs?

He's down to a finish first but an attempt at 90 goes awry on double five.

He'll surely get another shot with Michael van Gerwen back on 158... oh no, he won't!

Brilliant from the Dutchman.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael van Gerwen is the only player left in the draw to have won the PDC World Championship before - he's won it on three occasions.

But whoever is crowned the PDC World Championship winner on Friday will have a mighty long way to go to match Phil Taylor's record of 16 world darts titles - 14 of them in the PDC.

Taylor's first two world titles came in 1990 and 1992 at Lakeside, before the sport split into rival organisations - the BDO (British Darts Organisation) and what is now the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation).

"The Power" was the dominant force in the PDC for almost two decades, with many of his records unlikely to ever be surpassed.

His last world title came in 2013 and his final match before retiring as a professional was the 2018 world final, which he lost to Rob Cross.

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

Van Gerwen is on top and looking to fire his way into the final.

Image source, Reuters