Gerwyn Price Advances to World Matchplay Semi-Finals with Clinical Win Over Ross Smith

Gerwyn Price produced a clinical display to beat Ross Smith 16-12 in the World Matchplay quarter-finals, setting up a meeting with Gian van Veen in the last four. The Welshman looked to be in control of the last-eight tie at Blackpool's Winter Gardens before Smith fought back from 12-8 down to draw level. However, Price was able to raise his game again to seal victory with a 102.78 average as he bids to reach the final of the tournament for the first time. "Ross played a decent game as well, so it's nice to play well when someone is playing well. It gives you a bit of confidence going into the next round," Price told Sky Sports. "For him to get back to 12-12, I thought 'here we go again', but thankfully I rode off four legs on the bounce." Price will play Van Veen of the Netherlands in the semi-finals on Saturday after the Dutchman chalked up a 16-13 win over spirited James Wade. Van Veen seized the upper hand early on and had a three-leg cushion at 11-7, only for Wade to battle back and get on level terms at 11-11. Englishman Wade kept pegging Van Veen back until the third seed produced a 118 checkout to break Wade's throw to go 14-12 up before he wrapped up victory. "It was a tight battle, but I'm glad I got the job done," Van Veen said. "I was so lucky James wasn't scoring as well and my finishing got me through. Hopefully in the semis I will be a lot better." Defending champion and world number one Luke Littler faces unseeded Dirk van Duijvenbode in the other semi-final, after they won through on Thursday.