Luke Littler is just one game away from reaching the World Darts Championship final, with Stephen Bunting standing in his way.
17-year-old Littler produced an impressive performance to send Nathan Aspinall into the quarter-finals on New Year's Day.
Now, he faces Ponting, who eliminated two-time champion Peter Wright in his last bout.
Wright, who previously ousted Luke Humphries, has been vocal about his ability to challenge the top players.
However, Ponting put an end to those ambitions, setting up a showdown with Littler, who reached last year's final.
For Littler, this year brings added pressure. He admits that expectations are higher now compared to what he achieved last season.
Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Ponting and Chris Dobie all booked their places in the semi-finals of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship on Wednesday.
Recap and reactions from an exciting day of quarter-final action at Ally Pally! 📝👇
— Siham PDC (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2025
“Obviously Michael (Van Gerwen) has been there a few times, Chris the first time, me the second, and Ponting, I think, the first or second time, so it's going to be a good night,” Lettlier said.
“I felt my best in this tournament so far, so hopefully I can regroup and come back and I can feel the same way.
“We all know the expectations, and it's very different from last year. But tonight, I felt greater, and hopefully I can regroup and feel like I did on that stage.
Van Gerwen was stoked before facing Dobey
Michael van Gerwen will start Thursday's semi-final against Chris Dobbie.
The Dutchman, a three-time world champion, was quick to reject Dobe's latest comments before the match.
Dube claimed that facing Van Gerwen in the semi-final might be a “little bit easier” than facing Callan Reeds, a Bedlington native. Van Gerwen, who swept the Reds in the previous round, was not shy about responding.
New Year's Day at the palace. ✅#WCDarts pic.twitter.com/SubbcdffE0
— Siham PDC (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2025
“People, when they win, talk a lot of nonsense,” Van Gerwen said.
“Dobby is a very interesting player to play against because he can deliver something really good. So you always have to make sure you keep your fire up and everything because he is a good player.
Van Gerwen is seeking his fourth world title and will appear in his ninth world championship semi-final. However, it has been a few years since he tasted victory at Alexandra Palace, with his last victory coming in 2019.
It is worth noting that 2024 was the first year since 2011 that Van Gerwen failed to win a televised championship. When asked about regaining the title of 'King of the Palace', he remained confident but realistic.
“That would be nice. Maybe people know the answer, but no, it's a difficult answer. It's a tough battle, but I love fighting battles, and as long as I keep believing in my abilities, the king will return.”
Thursday night schedule
The semi-final action begins at 7.30pm, with Van Gerwen taking on Dube before Letteller takes on Ponting in what promises to be an exciting finale to the penultimate stage of the World Darts Championship.
Michael van Gerwen vs Chris Dobie
Luke Littler vs Stephen Ponting
Luke Littler's fan club had some familiar faces tonight… ☢️ pic.twitter.com/3ZM4hkEdRi
— Siham PDC (@OfficialPDC) January 1, 2025
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is shown on Sky Sports in the UK.
You can watch the semi-final on Sky Sports Darts and Main Event from 19:30 GMT.
Predictions
With only four players remaining in the tournament, this game is now available to anyone in Ally Pally.
In the first match tonight, Van Gerwen is the favourite. The Dutchman is playing his best darts game of the year, but Dube is certainly no pushover.
If Van Gerwen can come out and get off to a strong start, it is very difficult to imagine his rival coming back and beating him.
As for the main event, Littler will feel the pressure more than ever. He's a fan favorite, but so is Bunting, the crowd will be cheering for both sides on this card.
The 17-year-old was sensational against Aspinall, making things look easy in the quarter-final. He is tipped to qualify for another final, but if he is a little off form, Ponting will be there to pounce.
