Rob Cross was eliminated from the Unibet Premier League in Wednesday's Night Eight as Peter Wright and James Wade secured their spots in the second half of the season.
Cross will join reigning champion Glen Durrant in exiting the event after Thursday's Night Nine in Milton Keynes after he suffered a 7-5 loss to Nathan Aspinall.
Later wins for Wade and Wright mean that Cross is now three points adrift with just one game left before the bottom two stars are eliminated, with the 2018 finalist set to finish ninth for a second successive year.
He held his own in the early stages against Aspinall, who turned the match with a 146 checkout to break throw in leg five as five straight legs moved him 6-2 up.
Cross battled back to 6-5 as he took the tie all the way, but Aspinall held his nerve to secure his own fourth win of the season.
"It was a big two points for me and I'm very happy, considering it was an under-par performance," said Aspinall, who remains joint-second on 11 points. "I know Rob was under pressure and had to win tonight.
"I needed to win too to get some daylight from the rest of the guys, so I'm happy to have taken three points from four in the last two nights.
"When I went 6-2 up I took my foot off the gas, I thought I'd already won. You can't think like that and it's something I'm trying to learn."
The PDC later jokingly tweeted that Thursday's 'Judgement Night' has now been renamed 'Night Nine' after listening to the fans.
As a result of listening to you and the wider darts community over recent hours we are changing ‘Judgement Night’ to ‘Night Nine’.
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 21, 2021
We made a mistake, and we apologise for it.
𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 21, 2021
❌ Confirmation that Rob Cross has joined Glen Durrant in being eliminated on Night Eight.
James Wade moves into the top four, while Jonny Clayton slips down to eighth having been top after Night Five. pic.twitter.com/ROdtr1va22
Wright ensured his own survival with a 7-1 win over Durrant, who went down to an eighth straight loss despite posting a season-high 121 checkout.
"I knew I had to win this game and I was nervous," said Wright, who landed a 156 checkout in the tie. "It's really hard playing Glen, to see him struggling like that.
"In the last two games there were glimpses of the old Glen but tonight he didn't perform."
𝟭𝟱𝟲 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 21, 2021
Superb finish from Wright there as he fires in a huge 156 checkout to extend his lead to 6-1! pic.twitter.com/VarctXstND
UK Open champion Wade also booked his spot in the second half of the season, producing a third successive ton-plus average as he overcame Jonny Clayton 7-2.
The 2009 Premier League winner led 3-0 before Clayton won two of the next three, but Wade pulled clear and took out a match-high 101 finish on his way to victory.
"I was happy with that," said Wade. "I made a few breaks and a few chances of my own tonight and, playing like I have done for the last couple of days, I know what I'm capable of."
𝗪𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 21, 2021
James Wade is into the top four after a truly dominant 7-2 victory over Jonny Clayton!
Wade averaged over 105 there! 🔥
📺 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗽 👉 Peter Wright v Glen Durrant pic.twitter.com/YwaFZSY6QO
Dimitri Van den Bergh missed double 18 for a nine-darter as he edged out Gary Anderson 7-5 to remain a point clear at the top of the table.
That effort at a perfect leg came in leg five as Van den Bergh posted a ten-darter to move 4-1 up, before the two-time Premier League winner pulled back to five-all.
However, Anderson missed five darts at doubles to move 6-5 up as Van den Bergh earned at least a point, before four further misses allowed the Belgian in to take both points.
"It could have gone either way, we missed a load of doubles," said Van den Bergh. "I think Gary kept me under pressure with his scoring but I got a bit of luck today.
"I thought the double 18 on the nine-darter was going in, but I went downhill from there. I think I've won my worst game, and it was a little bit of karma."
Five-time Premier League winner Van Gerwen produced a 105 average to defeat Jose de Sousa 7-4 in a game where the pair shared 14 180s.
Van Gerwen opened with a showpiece 125 finish and also took out 79, 96 and an 11-darter in moving 5-2 up.
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 21, 2021
FOUR 180s in a row in that leg as Van Gerwen fires in an 11-darter to open up a 5-2 lead! pic.twitter.com/E0ObLQmlZu
De Sousa hit back by winning two of the next three, but Van Gerwen closed out the win to move up to second, ahead of Aspinall on leg difference.
"I'm happy with my performance," said Van Gerwen. "I made it a little too difficult for myself, because I wanted to get the win over the line.
"It feels good but a win is a win, and it doesn't matter how you win. I still have more in the tank and I need to make sure I concentrate on my game."
Thursday's Night Nine will now begin as Durrant and Cross compete in their final game of the season, before the remaining eight step up the battle for Play-Off places.
Van Gerwen then meets Clayton, Aspinall will face Anderson, De Sousa meets Wright and Van den Bergh plays Wade.
2021 Premier League Darts Table
- Dimitri Van den Bergh P 8 W 5 D 2 L 1 LegD +14 Pts 12
- Michael van Gerwen P 8 W 4 D 3 L 1 LegD +12 Pts 11
- Nathan Aspinall P 8 W 4 D 3 L 1 LegD +11 Pts 11
- James Wade P 8 W 4 D 1 L 3 LegD +7 Pts 9
- Gary Anderson P 8 W 3 D 2 L 3 LegD +1 Pts 8
- Jose de Sousa P 8 W 3 D 2 L 3 LegD 0 Pts 8
- Peter Wright P 8 W 3 D 2 L 3 LegD -1 Pts 8
- Jonny Clayton P 8 W 3 D 2 L 3 LegD -2 Pts 8
- Rob Cross P 7 W 2 D 1 L 4 LegD -3 Pts 5 (ELIMINATED)
- Glen Durrant P 7 W 0 D 0 L 7 LegD -31 Pts 0 (ELIMINATED)
- The top four after 16 games qualify for the end of season play-offs, where the title will be decided
- Players earn two points for a win, and one for a draw.
- When players are tied on points, leg difference is used first as a tie-breaker, after that legs won against throw and then tournament average.
Premier League Darts 2021: Wednesday results and Thursday schedule
Night 8, April 21
Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
- Rob Cross 5-7 Nathan Aspinall
- Gary Anderson 5-7 Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Michael van Gerwen 7-4 Jose de Sousa
- James Wade 7-2 Jonny Clayton
- Peter Wright 7-1 Glen Durrant
Judgement Night, April 22
Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
- Jonny Clayton v Michael van Gerwen
- Glen Durrant v Rob Cross
- Jose de Sousa v Peter Wright
- Nathan Aspinall v Gary Anderson
- Dimitri Van den Bergh v James Wade
