Darting sensations Luke Littler and Michael Van Gerwen headline a Great Eight left at the Ally Pally.

The Nuke and his Dutch rival join Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Chris Dobey, Callan Rydz and Nathan Aspinall in the fight for the PDC World Championship semis. Four showdown New Year’s Day ties will whittle that number down to a Fab Four. If you thought the action has been mouthwatering so far – cop a load of this. Here Record Sport assesses where the games will be won and lost.

Experience in the bank

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Van Gerwen has no equal in those stakes when it comes to the big stage at the game’s most-iconic venue.The Green Machine has won the title on three occasions and has won more games on that stage than any other player with 57 in the bank, six clear of next best Gary Anderson. Wright beat him in one of his two Finals.

He’s seen and done it all as well. Price has won a title, but that was in Covid times with no crowd. This is different. Same as Bunting’s BDO win. It doesn’t lessen the achievement of the Welshman or the Scouser, it’s just the PDC event in front of a boisterous 3500 sell-out is different to those scenarios. Van Gerwen and Wright have an advantage of wearing that specific t-shirt.

Crowd support

None of these boys are unpopular, but the ones who gets the supporters onto their side are going to have a big advantage. You only had to see the match between Rydz and Rob Owen where the Welshman was hounded or witness Cameron Menzies’ tears to know how tough it can be when they are against you. It’s merciless. Littler, of course, has everyone eating of his hands, but the punters chanted for Ryan Joyce in his last game as well as they love an underdog.

Aspinall will get that backing against The Nuke and he’s a crowd favourite, anyway. Bunting is another who could get the benefit as he’s built a massive following within the game. Don’t underestimate how crucial this could be. If the crowd turn, they could turn a game.

Outer ring of fire

Wright showed the value of it against Luke Humphries. It was a 50-50 contest and Snakebite’s lethal prowess on the outer-ring was pivotal in moving the contest in his direction. Joyce’s talents at finishing were almost enough to get him past Littler in the last 16. Van Gerwen has finished well and Aspinall, who admits himself it can be an Achilles heel, has found the that in his last two games.

Dobey missed over 50 double shots in his last game against Kevin Doets, which was a best of seven sets. That cannot continue in any format, let alone with the matches stepping up to best of 11 at this stage of the tournament and rising again for the semis and Final.

Emotional rollercoasters

In some ways, that mixes with the experience, but staying concentrated and not losing the focus at vital times in games is going to be hugely important. Although there is time to recover in a longer format, a 10 or 15 minute spell out of the zone can take the game away from you in the blink of an eye.

The best players do not let their shoulders slump when a couple of things go against them or show any signs of emotion to the opponent. No chinks in the armour. Wright probably has the best poker face of all eight when the game starts. It can work, however, work both ways. If the likes of a Price or a Van Gerwen get on a roll and start roaring huge celebrations, they can ride that wave.

Premier League effect

The Sid Waddell Trophy is all that counts. No one is really casting an eye to anything else at this stage, but there was a feeling during the opening couple of weeks of the tournament that the tantalising prospect of making the 2025 spectacular was weighing on minds and affecting form. Players who were tipped to win wild cards crashed out. Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker, for example, just didn’t show up and went out at the first hurdle. Winning the title will make it automatic for anyone currently outside of the top four in the rankings who qualify automatically. But with spots still up for grabs, making the semi-finals of the Worlds might just be enough to book a ticket for the Premier League. Outside of Van Gerwen and Littler, none of the other six are shoo-ins. Winning on New Year’s Day could go a long way to punching a ticket.