MICHAEL Smith has reached the Cazoo World Championship Final for the second year running after beating German number 1 Gabriel Clemens 6-2 at the Alexandra Palace semi-final.

He scored heavily throughout, but plenty of misses on the doubles, which his clinical opponent exploited at times.

The St Helens darter started well and took the opening set, and looked all set to go two up but missed four darts on the doubles to allow Clemens to level.

The pair took another set each, but Smith got the bit between his teeth in set five with a 3-0 whitewash.

Crucially he won the sixth against the darts with a bull finish, edging a tight next set in which throw was broken twice – one each.

Smith saw it home to take his place in tomorrow’s final - the third in five years.

He will play the on-song Michael van Gerwen.

The winner will not simply be World Champion but also World number one.