Dutch Eurovision Song Festival entry Arcade by Duncan Laurence is through to the final of the contest in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Laurence performed the song in the second semi-final on Thursday evening and despite earlier problems with a ball of light, the staging worked well, Dutch commentators said. The semi-final results are based 50% on a jury and 50% on the television audience vote.

Arcade, a ballad with a stirring chorus, is hot favourite to win Saturday’s main event – with as much as a 42% chance of victory according to some bookies.

Laurence is 12th in the running order of 26 entries. Australia, Sweden and Switzerland are also among the bookies favourites.

The Netherlands last won Eurovision in 1975 with Teach-In and the immortal Ding-a-dong. The Common Linnets and Calm after the Storm came second in 2014.