Van Gerwen into World Matchplay semi-finals

Michael van Gerwen clinched his spot successful nan semi-finals of nan World Matchplay successful Blackpool pinch a gritty 16-10 triumph complete Andrew Gilding.

The world number 2 from nan Netherlands started slow against Gilding earlier an eight-leg winning streak swung nan title his way.

Van Gerwen turned an 8-6 shortage into 14-8 lead arsenic nan Englishman struggled to find a consequence astatine nan Winter Gardens successful Blackpool.

"Everyone knows to play him [Gilding], it's tough. He is very slow, and sometimes a spot boring to play," Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.

"But what a darts player. You request to ever make judge you are connected apical of your game. I cognize I tin do a batch better."

Gilding, playing successful nan quarter-finals astatine nan Winter Gardens for nan first time, group nan early gait pinch a 148 checkout successful nan 3rd limb - nan highest of nan match.

Van Gerwen, who knocked teen Luke Littler retired of nan tourney successful nan first round, recovered himself 6-3 down against nan 53-year-old arsenic he struggled for rhythm.

But nan Dutchman nailed a 136 checkout to move wrong a limb of his force astatine 8-7 down arsenic he embarked connected a match-defining streak.

Gilding rallied towards nan extremity but it was excessively precocious and 35-year-old Van Gerwen sealed triumph pinch an 80 checkout connected double tops.

Van Gerwen averaged 96.99 arsenic he threw 100-plus 34 times during nan lucifer but was near irked by a double occurrence complaint of only 30%.

He added: "I missed excessively galore doubles, it was hard. My doubles, I'm not happy pinch astatine each but wide I won and that's nan astir important thing. In nan end, I deliberation I recovered different gear."

Van Gerwen will play nan victor of Friday's different quarter-final, betwixt Michael Smith and Rob Cross, successful nan semi-final connected Saturday.