Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson are on course for a semi-final meeting at the Players Championship Finals while Stephen Bunting shocked Peter Wright.
- Scroll further down for afternoon round-up, results & Sunday's schedule
Evening round-up
Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson both cruised through to the last eight stage of the Players Championship Finals and remain on course for a semi-final showdown.
Having averaged exactly 106 in an afternoon dismissal of Keegan Brown, van Gerwen swept past Stephen Burton 10-4 in the evening - this time with an average of 104.06.
Van Gerwen checked out 148 to lead 6-2 and maintained that sort of tempo in a straightforward victory, firing in six maximums to confirm his status as the tournament favourite.
Anderson, who had thumped Simon Whitlock in the round of 32, was a 10-2 winner against Joe Cullen.
ANDERSON WINS | He races through to the quarter-finals! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hnnN5g7JVG
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2018
The Flying Scotsman took the opening leg in 13 darts and while Cullen recovered to eventually level at 2-2, Anderson took the next eight legs in succession to reach the quarter-finals.
There he'll face Jonny Clayton, who beat Ricky Evans 10-5, while Steve Lennon is next for van Gerwen after he saw off Gabriel Clemens 10-7.
James Wade saw his bid for a third TV title in less than two months ended by Chris Dobey, who fought back from 9-8 down to win 10-9 as his opponent paid the price for no fewer than 20 missed doubles.
DOBEY THROUGH | He knocks out recent back-to-back title winner James Wade 10-9 to progress! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/LsEL6zEyP6
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2018
Daryl Gurney was almost as reckless in checkout out, missing 17 attempts, but some heavy scoring saw him beat Brendan Dolan 10-6 nonetheless to earn a clash with Dobey.
Danny Noppert impressed late in the day on stage two, dismissing Krzysztof Ratajski 10-4 to earn a clash with Stephen Bunting.
The former BDO world champion has looked to be edging back to his best lately and sealed an important victory by taking the deciding leg to win 10-9.
Bunting was never behind but just could not shake Wright, who fought back from a 6-4 deficit to take it the distance.
Ultimately, Bunting's superior finishing and the fact that he had the throw made the difference and, having won three legs on bullseye earlier in the match, he held his nerve to hit double 16.
THE BIRD IS THE WORD | Stephen Bunting defeats Peter Wright in a last leg decider!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2018
He faces Danny Noppert in the quarter-finals of the 2018 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals 🎯 pic.twitter.com/DcLF8UQSdZ
Afternoon round-up
Gary Anderson bounced back from his capitulation in the Grand Slam of Darts final to thrash Simon Whitlock at the Players Championship Finals.
Anderson, who lost a tempestuous final to Gerwyn Price in Wolverhampton on Sunday, was back to his best in winning the first and last three legs in a 6-1 victory.
The two-time world champion threw a 160 checkout to go 2-0 up, having stolen the first leg when Whitlock missed four darts at double.
HUGE 160 FROM ANDERSON 🎯 pic.twitter.com/eKfQXsxrrN
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2018
Those early mistakes from the Australian placed him immediately on the back foot although 11 darts for the fourth leg meant he avoided the ignominy of a whitewash.
Anderson responded with one of an eventual five maximums to restore his three-leg advantage and Whitlock wouldn't get another dart at double as the Scot cruised into round three.
Earlier, James Wade and Daryl Gurney both avoided upsets as they progressed to the evening session.
Wade was never behind against Nathan Aspinall, but a 116 checkout from the latter levelled things at 3-3 and kept in-form Wade honest as he eventually prevailed 6-4.
By contrast, Gurney was always on the back foot and survived three matched darts to beat Ryan Searle 6-5.
Gabriel Clemens beat James Wilson 6-5, a 101 checkout ending that match after Wilson had lost his way in the final leg, while Stephen Bunting beat Madars Ramza 6-4 in a low-key start to the afternoon.
Michael van Gerwen missed darts for a 6-0 victory over Keegan Brown but soon wrapped up a 6-1 success to earn a clash with Stephen Burton, who ousted Darren Webster in a surprise 6-3 win.
A FABULOUS 143 FROM MVG 💚 pic.twitter.com/1yBwaoPcEa
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2018
Ricky Evans averaged just a hair short of 100 in a 6-2 romp against Jeffrey de Zwaan, and there was another upset when Dave Chisnall lost 6-3 to the promising Chris Dobey soon after.
Brendan Dolan beat top-seed Ian White 6-3, Steve Lennon edged Spain's Cristo Reyes 6-5 and the improving Danny Noppert also won a last-leg decider against Mervyn King.
Late on in the afternoon, Michael Smith was a surprise casualty as he lost 6-5 to Jonny Clayton.
Smith needed 70 to win the deciding leg but hit double 12 instead of single, which would have left him double top. Instead, he missed double 14 and left the door open for Clayton to finish off 80 with one dart in hand.
Adrian Lewis also crashed out, the twice world champion on the end of a 6-3 defeat to Krzysztof Ratajski.
KRZYSZTOF RATAJSKI IS THROUGH | He beats Adrian Lewis 6-3 to progress into the last 16 🎯 pic.twitter.com/pHX2IHfmer
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2018
The Polish Eagle fought back from 5-1 down to beat Price on Friday and again had to call upon reserves here, rattling off five legs in a row once more to win 6-1 having lost three of the opening four legs.
Peter Wright had no such issues as he got the better of Max Hopp 6-2 despite failing to hit a single 180, with a 121 finish in leg seven the highlight, and Joe Cullen got away with a slow start as he beat Steve Beaton 6-4.
Players Championship Darts: Saturday results & schedule
Saturday November 24
Afternoon Session (12.45pm)
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
Main Stage (TV Coverage: ITV4)
- Daryl Gurney 6-5 Ryan Searle
- James Wade 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
- Dave Chisnall 3-6 Chris Dobey
- Cristo Reyes 5-6 Steve Lennon
- Gary Anderson 6-1 Simon Whitlock
- Michael Van Gerwen 6-1 Keegan Brown
- Peter Wright 6-2 Max Hopp
Stage Two
- Stephen Bunting 6-4 Madars Razma
- James Wilson 5-6 Gabriel Clemens
- Jeffrey de Zwaan 2-6 Ricky Evans
- Stephen Burton 6-3 Darren Webster
- Ian White 3-6 Brendan Dolan
- Danny Noppert 6-5 Mervyn King
- Michael Smith 5-6 Jonny Clayton
- Steve Beaton 4-6 Joe Cullen
- Adrian Lewis 3-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Evening Session (7pm)
Third Round (Best of 19 legs)
TV Coverage: ITV4
Main Stage
- James Wade 9-10 Chris Dobey
- Gary Anderson 10-2 Joe Cullen
- Michael van Gerwen 10-4 Stephen Burton
- Peter Wright 9-10 Stephen Bunting
Stage Two
- Steve Lennon 10-7 Gabriel Clemens
- Brendan Dolan 6-10 Daryl Gurney
- Jonny Clayton 10-5 Ricky Evans
- Krzysztof Ratajski 4-10 Danny Noppert
Sunday November 25
Afternoon Session (12.45pm)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs)
TV Coverage: ITV4
Main Stage
- Daryl Gurney v Chris Dobey
- Danny Noppert v Stephen Bunting
- Gary Anderson v Jonny Clayton
- Steve Lennon v Michael van Gerwen
Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: ITV4
- Semi-Finals (Best of 21 legs)
- Final (Best of 21 legs)
