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Price beats Smith to reach Matchplay semi-finals
Price beats Smith to reach Matchplay semi-finals
Gerwyn Price is ranked seventh in the world by the PDC
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.
Follow live coverage of the semi-finals on the BBC Sport website and app from 19:30 BST on Saturday.
Friday's World Matchplay results
Numbers in brackets indicate seedings
(7) Gerwyn Price 16-12 Ross Smith (15)
(3) Gian van Veen 16-13 James Wade (6)
Saturday's World Matchplay schedule
Semi-finals - action from 20:05 BST
(7) Gerwyn Price vs (3) Gian van Veen
(1) Luke Littler vs Dirk van Duijvenbode