UK Open Darts final recap: Nathan Aspinall hits 170 checkout to beat Rob Cross 11-5

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Main Stage (1900 GMT, ITV 4)
Best of 21 legs

• Gerwyn Price 9-11 Nathan Aspinall
• Rob Cross 11-7 Michael Smith

Final (best of 21 legs)

• Nathan Aspinall 11-5 Rob Cross

Scroll down for leg-by leg reports and stats from all the games plus match highlights

If you thought the climax to the final was special - as well as Nathan Aspinall's epic semi-final with Gerwyn Price earlier in the night - then you'll love his post-match interview!

A perfect way to round off what has been a truly memorable UK Open.

Here's some records Aspinall has broken as a result of his success tonight, which follows his run to the World Championship semi-finals that also earned him £100,000 and his maiden Pro Tour title last September.

• First player ranked outside the top 32 to win a televised ranking event since 2012
• Just the second player in PDC history to win a televised tournament with a 170 finish.
• Become the fastest player to reach the top 16 after winning a Tour Card, which he did in January 2018.

Nathan Aspinall reaction

"I've worked so hard to get this far and to win this title is just a truly amazing feeling. [In 2014] my grandad and I were sat in the crowd and I told him I'm as good as the players up there, and now here I am lifting the trophy on this stage, it's just unreal. I want to thank my family because I'm away a lot so this is for them and I'd like to thank everyone for their support.

"The standard is so tough now, it was a long day for us both and neither Rob nor I played like we can in the final but I'm just so happy to get the win."

Rob Cross reaction

"Full credit to Nathan, he played well but I had nothing left which is a great shame. This tournament was a massive start to my career in 2016 and it was great to play well here in front of this amazing crowd again.

"Unfortunately I came up just short in the final but take nothing away from Nathan, he was pure class all the way through."

Nathan Aspinall wins the UK Open after beating Rob Cross 11-5 in the final!

Incredible drama at the end of a thrilling weekend as Nathan Aspinall wins his maiden major title by landing the biggest checkout of all to complete an 11-5 victory over Rob Cross!

Not only that but the 27-year-old from Stockport, who only earned his Tour Card back at the start of 2018, pockets £100,000 and will now move into the top 16 in the world as he becomes one of the newest superstars of the game.

Aspinall was also 125/1 to lift this prestigious trophy before a dart was thrown this weekend but you won't see him at those prices again! I just hope a few of you out there followed by pre-tournament tips!

Leg 16
Incredible! It's all over as Nathan Aspinall wins his first major title in style with a 170 checkout! The last five legs have been a procession for the Asp as Voltage completely ran out of steam but what a way to finish it off!
Aspinall 11-5 Cross

MATCH STATS

Averages

• Aspinall: 88.72
• Cross: 84.79

180s

• Aspinall: 2
• Cross: 8

Doubles

• Aspinall: 11/26
• Cross: 5/20

Highest Checkouts

• Aspinall: 170
• Cross: 81

Leg 15
Cross' misery continues as he spurns a dart at tops for a much-needed hold and Aspinall hits the same target for 1 10-5 lead. He's just one leg away from glory!
Aspinall 10-5 Cross

Leg 14
Aspinall can't quite believe his luck - his first major title looks like its being handed to him on a plate! The Stockport man missed three darts at a double but Cross then busts 10 when throwing a big single 12 - and that came after missing two darts from tops in the previous visit. Aspinall then cleans up for a 20-darter and now he's just two legs from glory.
Aspinall 9-5 Cross

Leg 13
Cross is all over the place despite hitting seven maximums! He's either throwing 180s or the kind of scores you'd see more frequently down the pub. His seventh maximum followed four more visits of under 60 and after failing to earn a shot at a double from 104, Aspinall takes out 50 for a three-leg lead.
Aspinall 8-5 Cross

Leg 12
Well that previous leg may have been a false dawn for Cross as four scores under 60 - and three under 50 - puts Aspinall under no pressure whatsoever as he wins the leg in 19 darts.
Aspinall 7-5 Cross

Leg 11
The interval has done Cross some good as back-to-back 180s is followed by a checkout of 81 to complete a superb 12-dart hold of throw. That's more like the Voltage we know.
Aspinall 6-5 Cross

SECOND INTERVAL: Aspinall 6-4 Cross

Sky Bet Odds: Nathan Aspinall is 8/15 favourite but if you fancy Rob Cross to turn it around then he's priced at 11/8. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Aspinall: 90.28
• Cross: 85.76

180s

• Aspinall: 2
• Cross: 4

Doubles

• Aspinall: 6/14
• Cross: 4/15

Highest Checkouts

• Aspinall: 77
• Cross: 81

Leg 10
Cross blows six darts at a double to level the match in a scrappy leg, with Aspinall finally catching up to pin two 10s for a 20-dart hold! It really is a pretty poor standard of darts but you can forgive them after a gruelling weekend of high intense action.
Aspinall 6-4 Cross

Leg Nine
The 2018 world champion comes to life when visits of 134, 100 and 180 leave 87 and while a sloppy score of 40 follows, he cleans up 47 for a 15-dart hold.
Aspinall 5-4 Cross

Leg Eight
Cross should be four legs adrift but Aspinall spurned four clear darts at doubles from 32 and despite hitting single 14 with his first dart from 25 remaining, Voltage recovers to pin two fours with his last dart in hand. He needed that, no matter how it came.
Aspinall 5-3 Cross

Leg Seven
Seven more visits of under 100 from Cross, including three less than 60, and although Aspinall is hardly producing stunning darts either, the 27-year-old was able to break in 20 darts with a 60 checkout.
Aspinall 5-2 Cross

Leg Six
Cross is struggling to find the big scores at the moment and five visits of under 100 apiece allows Aspinall to coast to an 18-dart hold.
Aspinall 4-2 Cross

FIRST INTERVAL: Aspinall 3-2 Cross

Sky Bet Odds: Nathan Aspinall is 10/11 after taking an early lead while Rob Cross can be backed at 4/5. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Aspinall: 98.62
• Cross: 90.04

180s

• Aspinall: 1
• Cross: 2

Doubles

• Aspinall: 3/3
• Cross: 2/4

Highest Checkouts

• Aspinall: 77
• Cross: 81

Leg Five
Another impressive leg from Aspinall as he breaks the Cross throw thanks to four steady scoring visits and a clinical checkout of 77 for a 15-darter. As the music sounds to signal the first interval, he's keen to enjoy his first big final by showing off his dancing moves to the 5,000-strong Main Stage crowd at the Butlin's Minehead Resort.
Aspinall 3-2 Cross

Leg Four
Much better from the Asp as he records his first maximum of the match en route to taking out tops for a 13-darter. He's two from two with his double attempts in these early stages.
Aspinall 2-2 Cross

Leg Three
Neither player are scoring particularly heavy as Cross holds his throw in 18 darts, with Aspinall waiting back on 90 but we must remember both will be jaded after a long day of action.
Aspinall 1-2 Cross

Leg Two
Aspinall found himself in early trouble when an opening visit of 41 was punished by Cross' second 180 of the match but he clawed his way back as Voltage faltered and scrambled the leg in 19 darts.
Aspinall 1-1 Cross

Leg One
Cross blasts out of the blocks with visits of 140, 180 and 100, before taking out 81 for a stunning 12-darter in the opening leg - although Aspinall was also waiting on the same score after three successive 140s.
Aspinall 0-1 Cross

2145: The players have made their way to the stage, but who will leave it with the UK Open trophy in their hands for the first time? Let the drama begin...

2140: Here are the routes to the final in case you can't remember...

ROB CROSS

• Fourth round: 10-4 v Darren Webster (Av: 99.1)
• Fifth round: 10-5 v Mervyn King (Av: 97.1)
• Sixth round: 10-6 Cristo Reyes (Av: 93.5)
• Quarter-finals: 10-7 Josh Payne (Av: 95)
• Semi-finals: 11-7 Michael Smith (Av: 94.2)

NATHAN ASPINALL

• Third round: 6-3 v Toni Alcinas (Av: 97.4)
• Fourth round: 10-9 v Christian Kist (Av: 93.7)
• Fifth round: 10-2 v Madars Razma (Av: 97.8)
• Sixth round: 10-8 Steve Lennon (Av: 90.5)
• Quarter-finals: 10-6 Ross Smith (Av: 96.8)
• Semi-finals: 11-9 Gerwyn Price (Av: 94.31)

2135: Anyone, enough of self praise, here's the all-important head-to-head stats for tonight's final.

• Overall: 3-0
  On TV: 1-0
• Meetings
  Cross 10-8 Aspinall - UK Open, March 2018
  Cross 6-2 Aspinall - Players Championship, October 2017
  Cross 6-5 Aspinall - Austrian Darts Qualifier, May 2017
• Career Titles: 5-1 (TV: 2-0)
  Titles since start of 2018 : 2-1 (TV: 1-0)

Well, as you can see there's not a lot to go off here, although their only televised meeting was on the UK Open main stage 12 months ago in round three.

2130: I couldn't quite believe my luck to have three of my five pre-tournament tips in the semi-finals, so I'll have to thank the Magic of the FA Cup of darts to have Nathan Aspinall (125/1 each-way) and Rob Cross (18/1 on the nose) in the final.

Rob Cross defeats Michael Smith 11-7 to reach the UK Open final!

Rob Cross has reached his first major ranking final since winning the 2018 world title with an 11-7 victory over Michael Smith - and he'll now meet Nathan Aspinall!

It may not have been the most compelling of matches as both players struggled to produce their best form apart from the four 100+ checkouts, but ultimately it was more clinical finishing from Cross that proved to be the difference.

MATCH STATS

Averages

• Cross: 94.23
• Smith: 95.51

180s

• Cross: 6
• Smith: 7

Doubles

• Cross: 11/20
• Smith: 7/23

Highest Checkouts

• Cross: 146
• Smith: 108

Leg 18
Cross puts the last three legs of woe behind him to finally book his place in his first UK Open final, pinning double 18 after Bully Boy had come within a whisker of hitting the same target for a show-stopping 156 checkout!
Cross 11-7 Smith

Leg 17
Smith claws another leg back as he threatens an unlikely comeback. Bully Boy began the leg with his seventh 180 and after three visits in the 90s, he took out tops for a 13-darter.
Cross 10-7 Smith

Leg 16
Cross looked to be charging towards the finishing line with his sixth 180 of the match but blows his first two match darts from 60 - one at tops and the other at two 10s - and Smith extends the match by taking out 68.
Cross 10-6 Smith

THIRD INTERVAL: Cross 10-5 Smith

Odds: Rob Cross is 1/250 to finish this semi-final off while you can back Michael Smith at 25/1 to stage an incredible comeback. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Cross: 94.64
• Smith: 94.19

180s

• Cross: 5
• Smith: 6

Doubles

• Cross: 10/16
• Smith: 5/19

Highest Checkouts

• Cross: 146
• Smith: 108

Leg 15
A disconsolate Bully Boy keeps the match alive by hitting his 19th dart at a double in the match, and the fact he's only converted five of them tells its own story.
Cross 10-5 Smith

Leg 14
More disappointment for the St Helens man as wastes three more darts at doubles in a leg in which he threw his sixth 180 and Cross, who hit his fifth maximum, punishes him on double 10 for a 16-dart hold.
Cross 10-4 Smith

Leg 13
Smith was leading this leg 115 to 268 but he'd go on to spurn five darts at doubles as Cross caught him up to pinch the leg with a 50 checkout to complete a 17-dart break.
Cross 9-4 Smith

Leg 12
Voltage has found another gear with visits of 137, 140 and 128 helping him on his way to a 14-dart hold and he's now just three legs from a place in his first UK Open final.
Cross 8-4 Smith

Leg 11
Wow. Cross starts the leg with his third maximum and ends it with his third 100+ checkout of the match as he finishes 127 for an impressive 12-dart break straight after the interval, with Smith waiting on 30 after a visit of 140.
Cross 7-4 Smith

SECOND INTERVAL: Cross 6-4 Smith

Odds: Rob Cross remains favourite at 4/11 while Michael Smith is 2-1 to complete a gutsy comeback despite the pain he's in. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Cross: 91.49
• Smith: 94.05

180s

• Cross: 2
• Smith: 4

Doubles

• Cross: 6/10
• Smith: 4/10

Highest Checkouts

• Cross: 146
• Smith: 108

Leg 10
Far from a vintage semi-final by any means but the hobbling Bully Boy claws himself back into the match with a fairly comfortable break thanks to a fourth maximum of the match and a 56 checkout to complete a 15-darter. Cross was back on 146 and seems to be blowing hot and cold randomly throughout this clash.
Cross 6-4 Smith

Leg Nine
Smith fires in his third maximum of the match to start the leg and although he later missed tops for a 15 darter, he takes out 10 with his second attempt to close the gap with a hold of throw.
Cross 6-3 Smith

Leg Eight
Voltage is starting to warm up as two visits of 140 help him on his way to a 14-dart leg which he finishes on tops, although Smith had applied pressure with 139 to leave 28.
Cross 6-2 Smith

Leg Seven
Cross starts the leg well with visits of 180, 134 and 137 but when needing 50 he throws pub standard darts of single four and then single 11 before throwing a frustrated third dart into single three to leave himself 32! He takes it out next time at the second attempt, with Smith waiting on 72.
Cross 5-2 Smith

Leg Six
Apart from Cross' pretty ruthless finishing of four doubles hit out of six, neither player is anywhere near their best standards at the moment but the 2018 world champion holds his nerve on double three after Smith missed tops for Shanghai.
Cross 4-2 Smith

FIRST INTERVAL: Cross 3-2 Smith

Odds: Rob Cross is marginal favourite at 4/7 while Michael Smith is 5/4 to reach his first UK Open final! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Cross: 93.97
• Smith: 95.23

180s

• Cross: 1
• Smith: 2

Doubles

• Cross: 3/3
• Smith: 2/4

Highest Checkouts

• Cross: 146
• Smith: 108

Leg Five
This is much better from the World Championship runner-up as he follows his second 180 of the match with a visit of 95 and a 70 checkout to complete a 14-dart hold and further reduce the deficit.
Cross 3-2 Smith

Leg Four
Smith finally gets on the board as he backs up a visit of 140 with a 108 checkout under pressure as Cross waited hopefully on 36.
Cross 3-1 Smith

Leg Three
Voltage is going well in these early stages as two 100+ visits and another of 97 help to leave him 120, which he checks out for a fine 15-dart break and a 3-0 lead.
Cross 3-0 Smith

Leg Two
The duo exchange 180s but Smith spurns a dart at tops to break back and Cross makes him pay with a 52 checkout to open up an early lead.
Cross 2-0 Smith

Leg One
Rob Cross gets off to a flying start as a stunning 146 checkout completes an opening 15-dart break of throw - but only after Smith missed double 16 for a Shanghai finish.
Cross 1-0 Smith

2015: There's no time to rest after that incredible semi-final because Rob Cross and Michael Smith are making their way to the stage!

Voltage hasn't been quite as impressive as the walking wounded Bully Boy, who isn't playing like he had surgery on his leg last week, but he has won nine of their 12 contests albeit none of the last two back in the summer of 2018.

Nathan Aspinall defeats Gerwyn Price 11-9 to reach the UK Open final!

Nathan Aspinall is into his first televised final after an enthralling victory over Gerwyn Price, who so nearly produced a stunning comeback from 8-3 down!

Quite a (friendly) rivalry developing between these two players after they were also involved in a World Championship thriller back in December!

MATCH STATS

Averages

• Price: 95.37
• Aspinall: 94.35

180s

• Price: 6
• Aspinall: 3

Doubles

• Price: 9/23
• Aspinall: 10/20

Highest Checkouts

• Price: 101
• Aspinall: 121

Leg 20
Price looks set to force a deciding leg from 8-3 down when he arrives at the visit needing 70 but he looks exasperated after hitting single one! Single 19 then leaves bull which he narrowly misses and Aspinall returns to pin double 14 to complete the biggest victory of his career!
Price 9-11 Aspinall

Leg 19
Stunning from Price, who wins his fifth leg out of the last six with an incredible 11-dart break, including two 180s, after Aspinall had failed to earn a dart at a double from 100.
Price 9-10 Aspinall

Leg 18
Price makes Aspinall serve it out as he takes out 56 for a 15-darter, which was helped by three 100+ visits at the start of the leg, while Aspinall waiting for his chance on 40 having produced a superb visit of 129.
Price 8-10 Aspinall

Leg 17
Amazing darts all round! Aspinall looked in trouble but landed a timely 180 to leave 121 only for Price to fire in a maximum of his own to set up 41. The Asp could only find single 20 with the first dart of his next visit but he follows up with a treble 17 and bullseye for a stunning 12-darter under huge pressure. While he celebrates big, Price offers a wry smile of appreciation.
Price 7-10 Aspinall

Leg 16
Aspinall is possibly choking a little with the finish line in sight, missing two darts at tops when trying to take out 60, and Price makes him pay to complete a sloppy 20-darter. It was more great character from the former rugby player, who suffered an unfortunate bounce out followed by single one earlier in the leg.
Price 7-9 Aspinall

THIRD INTERVAL: Price 6-9 Aspinall

Odds: Nathan Aspinall remains favourite at 1/6 but Gerwyn Price is just 7/2 as he stages a late recovery! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Price: 93.76
• Aspinall: 92.14

180s

• Price: 3
• Aspinall: 1

Doubles

• Price: 6/17
• Aspinall: 9/17

Highest Checkouts

• Price: 101
• Aspinall: 100

Leg 15
Here we go, the real Gerwyn Price has turned up and the fire in the belly is back! Despite hitting single one with his first dart when attempting to take out 70, he composes himself, finds treble 19 before taking out double six for a crucial break. It's no wonder he lets out that bellowing roar!
Price 6-9 Aspinall

Leg 14
Price almost pins double 12 for a superb 132 checkout but he returns at the next visit to pin two sixes for a 16-dart leg that just about keeps him alive in this match. He won't give up, that's for sure.
Price 5-9 Aspinall

Leg 13
Aspinall responds with his own big celebration as he follows up a superb set up visit of 139 with a two-dart checkout from 100 to thwart Price's chance of a break, with the Iceman waiting on 40. He can't be feeling any pressure to take out 239 in five darts!
Price 4-9 Aspinall

Leg 12
Price lets out his first big roar of the match as he follows up his second maximum of the match with a 101 checkout that completes a 12-darter - by far his best leg of the match. But will it put enough pressure on the Stockport thrower?
Price 4-8 Aspinall

Leg 11
Aspinall showing no signs of jitters as he edges closer to the finishing line, backing up three 100+ visits and another of 90 before taking out tops at the first attempt for a 13-dart hold.
Price 3-8 Aspinall

SECOND INTERVAL: Price 3-7 Aspinall

Odds: Nathan Aspinall is hot favourite at 1/7 while Gerwyn Price is 4/1 to stage a stunning comeback! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Price: 92.13
• Aspinall: 92.28

180s

• Price: 1
• Aspinall: 1

Doubles

• Price: 3/13
• Aspinall: 7/15

Highest Checkouts

• Price: 56
• Aspinall: 90

Leg 10
Price opens this leg up with two treble 20s and an unfortunate bounce out but two more 100+ visits help him on his way to a 16-darter - although not before a 10th missed dart at a double in the match. His usual scoring power has deserted him too.
Price 3-7 Aspinall

Leg Nine
Aspinall can afford a miss at the bullseye for a 112 checkout as he returns to take out 20 for a commanding 7-2 lead. Just four more legs required against the below-par Price for a place in his first TV final.
Price 2-7 Aspinall

Leg Eight Don't rule out Price, especially after he came back from a big deficit against the talented Jamie Hughes in the fifth round on Saturday afternoon. Here he throws his first 180 before recovering from another three missed darts at doubles to get his second leg on the board.
Price 2-6 Aspinall

Leg Seven
The Stockport man throws the first 180 of the match after back-to-back 140s and then finishes off an 11-dart hold with a checkout from 41. He's on fire!
Price 1-6 Aspinall

Leg Six
Incredible darts from Nathan Aspinall, who clearly isn't fazed by another big occasion in a televised semi-final. With Price waiting on 20 after missing tops, Aspinall nails the bullseye for a 90 checkout!
Price 1-5 Aspinall

FIRST INTERVAL: Price 1-4 Aspinall

Odds: Nathan Aspinall is now the favourite at 1/2 while Gerwyn Price is 6/4 to bounce back and reach the final! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

• Price: 89.34
• Aspinall: 91.44

180s

• Price: 0
• Aspinall: 0

Doubles

• Price: 1/5
• Aspinall: 4/11

Highest Checkouts

• Price: 56
• Aspinall: 48

Leg Five
The underdog is flying at the moment as he follows up his visit of 140 with a clinical checkout from 48 to complete a 14-dart hold, with Price waiting back on 108.
Price 1-4 Aspinall

Leg Four
It's a third successive break of throw in this match as Aspinall backs up visits of 177 and 134 en route to an 15-darter - but it could have been finished in the previous visit had he pinned his attempt at double 18 for a 110 checkout.
Price 1-3 Aspinall

Leg Three
Both players are averaging in the low 90s in this cagey opening semi-final but Price follows up visits of 174 and 128 to take out 56 for a 14-dart break of throw.
Price 1-2 Aspinall

Leg Two
After failing to hit the bullseye when attempting to take out a 167 checkout, the Welshman spurns another two darts at a double, with Aspinall making him pay on two 10s to seize an early break.
Price 0-2 Aspinall

Leg One
It's a nervy start from both players as Aspinall takes advantage of Price missing two darts from double tops to finally finish off a 20-dart opening leg.
Price 0-1 Aspinall

1910: The players are making their way to the stage so let the drama begin.

1900: Let's now take a closer look at the first semi-final between (ahem, two of my each-way tips!) Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price, starting with their head to head records.

• Overall: 1-5
  On TV: 1-0
• Meetings since the start of 2018: 1-3
  Aspinall 2-7 Price - Players Championship, Feb
  Aspinall 5-6 Price - Players Championship, Feb
  Aspinall 3-2 Price - World Championship, Dec
  Aspinall 2-6 Price - Players Championship, March
• Career Titles: 1-5 (TV: 0-1)
  Titles since start of 2018 : 1-3 (TV: 0-1)

Obviously Price bosses the head-to-head record but in their only televised meeting at the World Championship, Aspinall came out on top with a little help from the crowd! However, a lot has changed since then in regards to Price's popularity.

Scroll down for their routes to the semi-finals...

ROUTES TO THE SEMI-FINAL

NATHAN ASPINALL

• Third round: 6-3 v Toni Alcinas (Av: 97.4)
• Fourth round: 10-9 v Christian Kist (Av: 93.7)
• Fifth round: 10-2 v Madars Razma (Av: 97.8)
• Sixth round: 10-8 Steve Lennon (Av: 90.5)
• Quarter-finals: 10-6 Ross Smith (Av: 96.8)

GERWYN PRICE

• Fourth round: 10-6 v Joe Cullen (Av: 96.2)
• Fifth round: 10-3 v Krzysztof Ratajski (Av: 101.4)
• Sixth round: 10-7 Jamie Hughes (Av: 105.7)
• Quarter-finals: 10-5 Simon Stevenson (Av: 102.2)

1850: I don't like to blow my trumpet but I did tip Cross at 18/1, Price at 20/1 each-way and Aspinall at 125/1 each-way in my pre-tournament preview so even the worst case scenario of Smith defeating Price in the final will mean nobody has lost money!

1845: Man of the moment Gerwyn Price, who won back-to-back Players Championship events last weekend, is now the 7/4 favourite to lift his second major TV title following his unpopular triumph in last November's Grand Slam of Darts final against Gary Anderson - but the way he's been playing of late, they'll be no jeers tonight.

The Iceman is really starting to win the fans round and his road to redemption has firmly gathered pace this weekend with three 100+ averages and a host of big 100+ checkouts, including a 164 in his win over Stevenson earlier today and two 161s in a stunning comeback against Jamie Hughes on Saturday.

He'll meet 6/1 outsider Nathan Aspinall in the first of tonight's semi-finals, which is of course a repeat of that epic World Championship clash in which the crowd roared the Stockport youngster on for a 3-2 triumph from 2-0 down.

Next in the betting behind Price at 9/4 is the walking wounded Michael Smith, who continues to make a mockery of the pain he's suffering from the emergency surgery he had on Monday to remove an abscess from his leg.

He doesn't look comfortable at the oche in terms of his movement but his performances have been surperb, winning his last two matches against Jermaine Wattimena and Steve Beaton in a combined time that equates less to one half of a football match!

Bully Boy will take on 11/4 third favourite Cross in the second semi-final and you have to say Voltage needs to turn up the heat from his last two performances if he's going to reach his first major ranking final since winning the world title at the start of 2018.

1830: Good evening and welcome to our live blog from the climax of the Ladbrokes UK Open, which all started on Friday when odds-on favourite Michael van Gerwen and defending champion Gary Anderson crashed out at their first hurdles.

Now it's down to Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall as they battle it out to life the trophy for the first time in their careers.

They all booked their places in the last four pretty comfortably this afternoon, with Cross defeating Josh Payne 10-7, Smith thrashing Steve Beaton 10-1, Price ending the unlikely run of Simon Stevenson 10-5 and Aspinall despatching another surprise quarter-finalist Ross Smith 10-6.

You can click here to read all about the afternoon games and watch some highlights you can click here for all the tournament results so far.

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