Michael van Gerwen has remained on course to defend his World Darts Championship title after beating Englishman Nathan Aspinall 6-3 in a tense semi-final at Alexandra Palace.
Van Gerwen wasn't at his best, but was able to punish Aspinall for one missed set dart in the deciding leg as the Dutchman hit a clutch double 16 to seal the set 3-2.
Aspinall hit back in the second set, landing the first 180 on his way to levelling the match at 1-1.
The third set went against the throw as the world number one nailed a double 16 to retake the lead at 2-1.
But the 28-year-old didn't give up, making a stinging 110 to tie the match up again at 2-2.
The three-time world champion wasn't about to lose, claiming the next two sets to take a 4-2, but once again. Aspinall wasn't going away, he quickly cleaned up a whitewash in the seventh set to cut the deficit to 4-3.
A 14-dart leg was enough to seal the match in the ninth set for the 'Green Machine' to set up a rematch of the 2014 final with Peter Wright, who earlier beat Gerwyn Price 6-3.
There were fiery moments early on in the match as both players celebrated in the faces of each other as they split the opening sets.
"I just focused," Wright told Sky Sports. "I've got to play better than that to win this, and I think I will."
"[Price] said he was going to win the first two sets. I like him, but I didn't appreciate what he did.
"That's why I didn't celebrate. He wanted me to concentrate, I concentrated, he lost.
"His average wasn't that good. He was nowhere near me. It spurred me on.
Van Gerwen and Wright will face each other on Thursday morning (NZ time).
