Just four players remain in the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, after a quarter final day full of excellent darting action.

Both semi finals will take place this evening at Alexandra Palace, to determine which two players will contest the sport’s showpiece game on Friday night.

A three time World Champion is bidding for his seventh World Darts Championship final, while last year’s runner up is looking to reach the game once again. Two more players are also bidding to reach their first ever World final, in what could be another astonishing night of action.

Here’s what to look forward to on semi final day at the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

A photo of the Sid Waddell Trophy, presented to the winner of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
We’re one step closer to knowing who will be lifting the Paddy Power World Darts Championship for 2025. Credit: PDC

Dobey and MvG meet in first semi final

After going out in the quarter finals the last two years, Chris Dobey finally managed to get over the line in a last eight game at the Worlds. He defeated Gerwyn Price yesterday 5-3, after going 2-0 down early on.

His reward for knocking out the 2021 World Champion? A tie against the three time former winner of this event, Michael van Gerwen, who also won 5-3 yesterday, beating Callan Rydz to secure his ninth last four spot at Alexandra Palace.

Chris Dobey on stage at the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
Chris Dobey is into the last four of the World Darts Championship for the first time. Credit: PDC

It’s been a season where both have won multiple titles on the floor, but they’ve not won a single TV title. This is rare for van Gerwen in particular, with it being just the second time in 13 years that he does not hold a single televised title.

Michael van Gerwen on stage at the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
Michael van Gerwen is looking to make the World Darts Championship Final for a seventh time. Credit: PDC

Hollywood is looking to reach the Paddy Power World Darts Championship Final for the first time, but MvG is bidding for a seventh appearance in the biggest game of all. This would further pull him clear of the rest of the field in terms of PDC World Final appearances, with only Phil Taylor ahead of him.

The Green Machine leads the all time head to head record between the pair 18-6, and won their only previous meeting at the World Darts Championship, whitewashing Hollywood 5-0 in the quarter finals in 2023. That, coincidentally, was the last time he made the final, so will it be repeat for van Gerwen? Or will Dobey get revenge and reach the final?

Littler and Bunting both bid for final

The winner of that game will take on the winner of the second semi final, which features two hugely popular players in Stephen Bunting and Luke Littler.

Bunting produced a solid performance to defeat former two time World Champion Peter Wright 5-2 yesterday, while Littler hit a 101.54 average to win by the same scoreline against Nathan Aspinall.

It’s been a great season for Bunting, who won his first ever PDC TV title at The Masters back in February, and reached the quarter finals at the UK Open as well as six Pro Tour finals. This is the first time he’s reached the World Darts Championship semi finals since 2021, where he lost to eventual champion Gerwyn Price.

Stephen Bunting on stage at the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
Stephen Bunting will be looking to reach the PDC World Darts Championship Final for the first time.

However, since losing the final last year, Littler has taken darts into the stratosphere. He won 10 titles in 2024, including the Grand Slam and Premier League. Now he’s looking to end the season by going one better than his magical debut run at Alexandra Palace.

Luke Littler on stage at the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship. Credit: PDC
Luke Littler will be looking to reach the World Darts Championship Final in back to back years. Credit: PDC

The two met twice in 2024, and both went to last leg deciders in floor tournaments, with each of them coming out on top once. Now, it’s time for the two of them to meet on the biggest stage of all.

Can Bunting reach the world’s top four and his first ever PDC World Darts Championship Final, 11 years on from when he won the BDO Crown?

Or will Littler continue his quest to avenge last year’s loss in the showpiece game and reach a second straight World Final?

The action begins from 19.30 GMT.

2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Semi Final Schedule of Play

Thursday 2 January 2025 (1930 GMT)

Semi Finals

Chris Dobey v Michael van Gerwen

Stephen Bunting v Luke Littler