Gerwyn Price moved a step closer to a first World Matchplay final after beating Ross Smith 16-12 in Blackpool to reach the semi-finals.
The world number seven produced a clinical performance at the Winter Gardens, backing up a strong scoring display with a 102.78 average. Smith stayed in the match for long spells, but Price did enough in the key moments to pull clear and book his place in the last four.
Price admitted afterward that it was important to keep his level high against an opponent who was also playing well. He said Smith “played a decent game as well” and added that it was good to perform well against strong resistance because it gives him confidence going into the next round.
The Welshman also pointed to a tense moment when Smith pulled back to 12-12. Price said he briefly thought, “here we go again,” before responding by winning four legs on the bounce to close out the match.
Who Price plays next
Price will face Gian van Veen in Saturday’s semi-finals, with that match part of a final four line-up that was completed on Thursday and Friday at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
Van Veen reached the same stage by beating James Wade 16-13 in another quarter-final. He described it as a tight battle and said he was glad to get the job done, adding that he was fortunate Wade was not scoring as well and that his finishing got him through. Van Veen said he hopes to be better in the semi-finals.
The other semi-final will feature defending champion and world number one Luke Littler, who is in the opposite half of the draw. That means Price now knows exactly what stands between him and a first appearance in the World Matchplay final: one more win on Saturday from 19:30 BST.
The semi-finals will be covered live on the Sport website and app.
