MICHAEL Smith held his nerve to see off fourth seed James Wade to reach the World Darts Championship Final for the second time in his career.
The St Helens ace, who averaged 101, had to dig in after leading 5-1, only to see Wade hit a purple patch take the next two sets.
But there was a calmness about Smith's game to retain his composure to break Wade's throw and clinch the ninth set and match.
The 31-year-old from Clock Face will play Peter Wright in tomorrow night's final at Alexandra Palace.
Smith said: "That was a tough game, I have been told all day about Wadey's stats and I knew he was going to push me.
"There was one set where I hit one 180 after another but still managed to lose the set.
"It was about keeping my cool then and luckily enough he messed up the 224, and I checked out the double 10.
"James knows how to grind matches out and how to win, how to switch it off when he's not in the leg and then turn it back on.
"It was more for me to keep my head and that is what I did.
"I have worked hard for this."
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