Darts results: Glen Durrant beats Michael van Gerwen 6-4 at World Series of Darts Finals

The Middlesbrough man edged a high-class match in which both players averaged over 100, turning things around from 4-3 down to run out an impressive winner.

It means his record against van Gerwen now reads 4-1 in TV events, with one Premier League draw, and sees him enter Sunday's quarter-finals as one of the likely candidates to win this title.

Van Gerwen was left to rue a missed dart at bullseye in leg eight, which would've given him an explosive 164 finish and a 5-3 lead. He went on to miss a dart at double 16 in the next leg in a match decided by the finest of margins.

Durrant - who threw the game's only 180 - was just that bit more ruthless than the world champion, against whom he's established such a fine record since moving across from the BDO.

"That's a great win for me," said Durrant, who now meets James Wade in the quarter-finals. "I felt good tonight and I knew what was at stake - I realised I was playing the best player in the world.

"He's the biggest challenge in the world right now and the second greatest player who's ever picked up a set of darts. 

"My CV compared to him is a million miles away - I think I've got an issue in his head, and that could be with the pace, but that's something he has to deal with, not me.

"I know I'm a good player but this has all come really quickly. I've got to be really proud and I believe I'm up there with the best double hitters in the world right now. I'm in a fantastic place right now."

Wade in, weighed in

Wade opened his bid to win a second World Series of Darts Finals title in three years with a 6-3 defeat of Canada's Jeff Smith.

Smith finished 123 and 111 as he shared the opening two legs, but Wade took the next three - including a 102 checkout in leg six - as he pulled clear, before closing out a solid victory.

"It was quite nice to play in front of a crowd, it was good fun," said the number eight seed. "Perhaps the break has done me the world of good in some ways, and I'm grateful to be back."

Nathan Aspinall raced into the quarter-finals with a 6-1 demolition of Lithuania's Darius Labanauskas, who was only allowed one dart at a double in the contest.

Aspinall opened the tie with a 14-darter before taking out 142 to double his lead, while an 11-darter gave him the third before Labanauskas hit back by taking out 72 on tops.

However, Aspinall restored his cushion before following up a 13-darter with a 100 finish to move into Sunday's final stages with a 101 average.

"I played well and I'm into the final day," said Aspinall. "I used the five days in Germany as preparation for this weekend and I want to do the job - my target is to win it this weekend.

"I love playing in front of the crowd and the fans make the sport so good. We've missed them and tonight was special - I loved every minute of it.

"I was looking forward to it so much to play in front of people again. It felt like my TV debut again, I had butterflies before I walked on, and it's one of the most enjoyable games I've played in my career."

Gurn notice

Daryl Gurney averaged an impressive 102 as he overcame Cody Harris 6-2.

The two-time World Series finalist produced checkouts of 107 and 124, landed two 14-darters and a 13-dart leg as he opened up a 5-2 lead, before ending the New Zealander's hopes on tops in leg eight.

"I played well tonight, and as long as you're winning that's all that matters," said Gurney.

"I've got to get used to playing in front of a crowd again, tonight there was an extra incentive because you want to go out there and put in a performance.

"I played okay in the Autumn Series and I've been trying to be more positive in myself. For the last year and a half I've been practising the best I've ever practised and I've not been taking it onto stage.

"Tonight I felt a lot fresher but I'm still learning and the best's still to come."

Price is right

Gerwyn Price's bid to win a third successive tournament began in superb fashion as the world number three averaged 102 in a 6-3 win over Vincent van der Voort.

Price's break of throw in the opening leg proved crucial in putting him into the ascendancy, and after the pair traded 13-darters in mid-match the Welsh ace posted a 124 finish and then sealed victory with a 14-dart leg.

"I was under pressure all the way through the game but I stuck to my game and got over the winning line," said Price.

"I knew I was in for a tough game but thankfully he wasn't firing on all cylinders. I'm still playing well but I need to be on my A-game against Nathan.

"It's nice to have the crowd back, I was enjoying it and it was a bit different. It was a little bit jittery in parts but I enjoyed it."

Rob Cross produced the night's most dominant display by whitewashing Steve Beaton 6-0 despite not being at his best, averaging just a tick over 90.

Cross denied Beaton a dart at a double in the opening five legs, finishing 90 in the opener and a 12-darter in leg three, before punishing four misses from the former Lakeside Champion to close out the win.

"I feel really good," said Cross. "I've changed my set-up and my practice game is so much better than I showed tonight, but I'm glad to get the win.

"I enjoyed it. It was a little bit weird with Steve not playing his best, but it was amazing to have the crowd again. I can look forward to tomorrow now."

World champion Peter Wright overcame the challenge of Australian ace Damon Heta, enjoying a 6-3 win as he moved through to a quarter-final tie with Gurney.

The Scot benefitted from the better start, finishing 70, 68 on the bull and double 16 as he took the first three legs to move halfway to victory.

Heta won three of the next five, but Wright followed up legs of 14 and 12 darts with a 13-darter as he wrapped up victory with a 101 average.

"It was okay - I wanted to go up and do better than that, but to get the win was the most important thing," said Wright. "It was amazing to have the fans back. I interacted with the crowd and they were fantastic."

The final match of an absorbing saw Michael Smith edge past Krzysztof Ratajsk 6-4.

The pair traded blows over the first eight legs before Smith secured a vital break in the ninth, which he backed up by holding.

Saturday November 2 (1900 GMT)
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4

• James Wade 6-3 Jeff Smith
• Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Darius Labanauskas
• Daryl Gurney 6-2 Cody Harris
• Gerwyn Price 6-3 Vincent van der Voort
• Rob Cross 6-0 Steve Beaton
• Peter Wright 6-3 Damon Heta
• Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Glen Durrant
• Michael Smith 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski

Related links

• 2020 World Series of Darts Finals draw and schedule
• 2020 World Grand Prix draw and schedule
• 2020 Premier League fixtures & results
• 2020 PDC event calendar & results
• 2020 World Darts Championship results
• 2019 PDC event results
• Sky Bet's darts odds