• PDC World Championship

Relentless Van Gerwen whitewashes Lewis

Michael van Gerwen heavily capitalised on missed doubles from Adrian Lewis © PA Photos

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Michael van Gerwen produced a relentless, unforgiving performance to whitewash two-time champion Adrian Lewis in their PDC World Championship semi-final and set up a New Year's Day tie with Peter Wright.

Despite outscoring his the 2013 finalist, Lewis wasted numerous opportunities on a double and let his opponent in; Van Gerwen did not need to a second invitation and cruelly delivered the harshest of blows on almost every occasion.

As predicted, this semi-final went off like a firecracker as 'Jackpot' flew into action with the first maximum. However, missed doubles proved to be his Achilles heel as Van Gerwen finished consecutive 14-darters to issue the first break; an 82-out and 12-dart leg helped the Dutchman cap the set against the throw.

Van Gerwen ready to relax

• Following his demolition of Adrian Lewis, Michael van Gerwen admitted clinical finishing was the difference.
• "Adrian didn't play badly and certainly didn't deserve to lose 6-0. But I took my chances really well tonight and timed them to perfection," van Gerwen told PDC.tv.
• "Even at 5-0 up I kept my focus as Adrian is a class player and can produce a long run of winning legs in quick time, so it was a great feeling to hit double 11 and end the game.
• "I can relax tomorrow and prepare myself for the final against Peter [Wright]. Many will probably regard me as favourite, but Peter has produced a very high standard in all his games and will be a dangerous opponent."

The standard increased in set two with Van Gerwen sealing a 146 checkout and Lewis replying with an excellent 158, but again the Green Machined edged a nervy final leg with a pristine 85 finish.

Two-nil up and Van Gerwen was cruising, with Lewis scoring heavily but failing to find range on his doubles. Another two-dart finish, this time a 72 checkout, sealed a three-nil lead for the favourite Van Gerwen.

Lewis simply could not match his opponent as Van Gerwen began to run riot with his finishes. A third tonne checkout of the match gave the Green Machine all the advantage in the fourth; that 121-out combined with a sensational 154, with Lewis left on 42 after 12 darts, quickly made it a 4-0 lead.

The Stoke ace made a bright start to set five with a 112 finish, but Van Gerwen continued his tungsten tenacity with a 14-darter and a 72 finish to move within a set of another world championship final appearance.

Despite brief resistance from Lewis in the sixth set - he came back from 5-1 down to beat James Wade in the semi-final of the 2012 tournament - this time he could not produce a spirited performance of the same ilk. Van Gerwen sealed double 11 in the deciding leg to complete one of, if not the biggest, shock results in the history of darts.

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