- Michael van Gerwen has won seven of his last eight meetings with Michael Smith
- Michael van Gerwen has won four of his previous six World Matchplay semi-finals
- Recommended Bet: Michael van Gerwen over 9.5 180s

There is a blockbuster World Matchplay semi-final between Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith coming up on Saturday as Mighty Mike looks to move one step closer to a fourth Winter Gardens title. 

The Dutchman dismissed the challenge of Andrew Gilding in their last-eight tie, but a clash with Bully Boy certainly represents a step up in class.

MVG is the 4/6 favourite with LiveScore Bet to reach a fifth Blackpool final, while Smith is 6/5 to close in on an elusive first World Matchplay crown. 

The stats

Michael van Gerwen has won seven of his last eight meetings with Michael Smith.

Three of the last six meetings between these players have gone to a deciding leg, while the other trio finished with just a two leg difference. 

Michael van Gerwen has won four of his six World Matchplay semi-finals. 

Michael van Gerwen has hit 24 maximums in this year’s event.

Prediction 

Michael van Gerwen is back challenging at the business end of major events and the Dutchman's confidence was no doubt boosted by a first-round victory over Luke Littler. 

Might Mike has since gone on to beat Joe Cullen and Andrew Gilding to reach the last four in Blackpool, but averages of 95.49 and 96.99 do not suggest that the Green Machine is going to blow Michael Smith away. 

Bully Boy is putting up similar numbers to MVG on the Winter Gardens stage, but victories over Gary Anderson, Chris Dobey and Rob Cross certainly rate as stronger form.

What has been interesting and a change from what we have seen from the last 18 months is MVG’s maximum hitting. 

Mighty Mike rattled in 11 180s in 26 legs against Gilding, it was eight maximums in 19 games against Cullen and there is far less switching around the board from the Boxtel arrowsmith. 

The three-time World Matchplay champion has hit a total of 24 180s in his three Blackpool matches and there looks a strong chance that MVG will bust the 9.5 mark in Saturday night's best-of-33-leg semi-final showdown. 

It is 4/6 Van Gerwen and 6/5 Smith on the LiveScore Bet match betting, which clearly indicates a potentially close contest and three of the last six meetings between these players have gone to a deciding leg.

More games means more opportunities to land three darts in the treble 20 bed and getting long on Van Gerwen’s total 180s looks the play in what could be a blockbuster Blackpool contest. 

Back Michael van Gerwen over 9.5 180s at 11/10 with Livescore Bet