Michael Van Gerwen shakes off boredom to book semi-final place at World Matchplay

Michael van Gerwen was forced to overcome boredom as he produced a blistering eight-leg winning streak to book his spot in the semi-final of the World Matchplay.

The Dutchman is eyeing a fourth title at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and is into the last four after seeing off Andrew Gilding 16-10.

Van Gerwen surprisingly lost to Gilding in the UK Open final last year and must have feared another upset when he saw 'Goldfinger' have a dart at double 10 to take a 7-3 lead.

Gilding missed, though, and Van Gerwen soon pounced, with a 136 checkout kickstarting a thrilling run of legs, which saw him turn an 8-6 deficit into a 14-8 advantage.

He was able to get over the finish line from there to set up a seventh last-four appearance.

Van Gerwen was unhappy with his finishing on the doubles and also found Gilding’s pace difficult to contend with.

"It was a really tough game, everyone knows to play him is tough, he is very slow," he said.

"Sometimes it is a bit boring to play, but what a darts player. You have to be on the top of your game. It was tough I have to admit that. Sometimes it was difficult.

"I missed too many doubles, it was hard but in the end I found another gear and was able to win the game.

"I know I can do a lot better. I am battling my own battles."

Van Gerwen will have to up his game when he meets Michael Smith in the semi-final.

Smith did what he needed to do as he demolished Rob Cross, who will have nightmares about double 16.

Smith has had a barren time since his World Championship win 18 months ago, failing to win a major title since.

But winning a Pro Tour event and teaming up with Luke Humphries to win the World Cup of Darts seems to have brought ‘Bully Boy’ back to life and he is a contender to win a first Matchplay