Michael Smith ended the run of Nathan Aspinall to reach his first PDC World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace.
Both men were playing in the last four for the first time, but 10th seed Smith had the pedigree against debutant Aspinall and made it count to win 6-3.
Smith made a tremendous start and took a 2-0 lead, but Aspinall fought back to level at 2-2 and then again for 3-3.
But Smith was relentless in his scoring and clinched victory at the first attempt with a 121 checkout.
Smith (below) averaged 105.22, hit 17 180s – an individual record in a World Championship semi-final – and had a checkout percentage of 51.11.
INCREDIBLE MICHAEL SMITH!
What a win for The Bully Boy as he books his place in the World Championship Final.
105.22 average
17x 180s (A NEW INDIVIDUAL RECORD IN A SEMI)
51% on the doublesSensational 🎯 pic.twitter.com/oaUU7zIwE6
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) 30 December 2018
INTO THE FINAL!
What an incredible game that was!
Michael Smith cruising, before being pegged back by Aspinall. But some stunning big finishes from The Bully Boy as he reaches the final for the first time!#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/6xilpYDE9u
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) 30 December 2018
“I’m one match away from living my dream.”
An overjoyed Michael Smith shares his thoughts after his 6-3 semi-final win over Nathan Aspinall… pic.twitter.com/0rvGvLP1Se
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) 30 December 2018
THE FINAL!
Michael van Gerwen will take on Michael Smith in the final of the 2018/19 William Hill World Darts Championship… #WHDarts pic.twitter.com/lj5OTiiIdc
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) 30 December 2018
In the final, Smith will face top seed Michael van Gerwen, who swept to a 6-1 victory over Gary Anderson.
Anderson was unable to find his best form but, even if he had, he would have been hard pushed to make a game of it against Van Gerwen in this form.
The two-time winner looked set for only the fourth semi-final whitewash at Ally Pally when he opened up a 5-0 lead, with Anderson barely able to win a leg, but the Scot at least got on the board, even if it ultimately meant nothing.
Van Gerwen averaged 104.76, threw 11 180s and had a checkout percentage of 50 in a sensational display.
