Scotland's Peter Wright and Dutchman Michael van Gerwen will contest the final of the PDC World Championship after they both dominated their last-four encounters on Monday evening.
As the number two seed, Van Gerwen was expected to reach his second successive World Championship final, and he will go into the Alexandra Palace showpiece as the overwhelming favourite after whitewashing Adrian Lewis in the semi-finals.
However, after lighting up the competition with his high averages and questionable choice of clothing, Wright is in the form of his life and he is expected to make the final one of the most competitive of recent years.
Below, Sports Mole takes a look at the facts and figures behind the final, while predicting who will become the sixth name to be crowned PDC world champion.
© Getty Images
Tournament statistics
Name Peter Wright
Sets played 33
100+ 231
140+ 119
180+ 23
Highest checkout 164
Tournament average 99.36
Name Michael van Gerwen
Sets played 29
100+ 143
140+ 74
180+ 36
Highest checkout 154
Tournament average 98.76
Run to the final
Peter Wright
The number 16 seed started his Alexandra Palace campaign with a clinical 3-0 triumph over Joe Cullen, before being pushed hard by Danish qualifier Per Laursen in the last 32.
The third round saw him come up against Phil Taylor's conqueror Michael Smith, and the world youth champion looked ready to cause another surprise when taking a 3-2 lead, but Wright stormed back to take the remaining two sets.
His last-eight encounter with Wes Newton proved to be a similar affair, with the match swinging both ways before Wright finally emerged with the victory in a last-set decider.
The semi-final tie with Simon Whitlock was a much easier night for Wright, who eased into a 3-0 advantage before finally getting over the line by recording a 6-2 success.
Michael van Gerwen
Van Gerwen was far from his best in dispatching Zoran Lerchbacher, but he put in an improved display to get the better of Kevin McDine in the second round.
The 24-year-old's last-16 battle with Gary Anderson was arguably the match of the tournament, and at one stage, it appeared as though Anderson would dump Van Gerwen out after taking a 3-1 lead.
However, the Premier League titlist hit top gear to take three sets in a row to book a quarter-final date with Mark Webster, who had defeated Van Gerwen's Dutch compatriot Raymond van Barneveld.
Van Gerwen raced out of the blocks and established a 4-1 lead, but got complacent to allow Webster an opening at 4-3. He managed to regain his composure though, and a 90 checkout in two darts booked his place in the last four.
Much was expected of the next instalment of the Van Gerwen and Lewis rivalry, but with missed doubles costing the two-time world champion, his Alexandra Palace nemesis produced one of the most complete displays in years to dismantle the Stoke-on-Trent thrower with a whitewash win.
Previous televised meetings
November 1, 2013 - The Masters - Van Gerwen won 6-2
July 24, 2013 - World Matchplay - Van Gerwen won 13-3
December 23, 2012 - World Championship - Van Gerwen won 4-2 (sets)
December 23, 2009 - World Championship - Van Gerwen won 3-1 (sets)
© Getty Images
Prediction
Despite it being his first major televised final, Wright has no pressure on his shoulders as he looks to become one of the more surprising winners in the tournament's history.
With a Premier League place almost definitely secured, the 43-year-old will be able to enjoy the occasion, and he will no doubt take to the Alexandra Palace stage looking to get the crowd on his side with his flamboyant entrance.
It's not vital that Wright wins one of the opening two sets, but what is important is that he settles into a rhythm and shows Van Gerwen that he isn't overawed by his shock appearance in the final.
Wright needs to hit the ground running with his consistent 100 average, and force Van Gerwen to take out the high checkouts that have become his trademark in his past two matches with Lewis and Webster.
If the fast-throwing Dutchman finishes with aplomb, then he could canter towards his first world title, but if he misses and begins to doubt himself, then Wright has the experience to take advantage.
Regardless of what the bookmakers say, it would be a surprise if this final didn't go at least 11 sets, but Van Gerwen's proven ability to take out the important shots in a major final could prove crucial near the end of the match, and he could win this encounter by a 7-4 or 7-5 scoreline.
