Gary Anderson confirmed his place in next week's Premier League Darts Finals Night at London's O2 Arena, as the Scot defeated Michael van Gerwen in Aberdeen on Thursday night.
Anderson was in the driving seat heading into the final week of qualification games, as not only did he need to lose emphatically to the reigning champion van Gerwen, but Daryl Gurney - the only man that could replace him in the top-four - had to win heavily against Peter Wright to give himself a chance of joining van Gerwen, Rob Cross and Michael Smith in the next week's finals, but Gurney was unable to beat Wright before Anderson went on stage.
Gurney had to win 7-2 or better and then hope Anderson lost 7-0 to van Gerwen, but Gurney, who had led 5-2 in his match with Wright struggled to find top form, and he eventually drew his match with 'Snakebite' 6-6 to remain in fifth spot, and that left Anderson in the knowledge that he was safely through to the Finals Night in the capital next Thursday.
However, the 'Flying Scotsman' was ready to put on a show for his adoring home fans, and the former Premier League champion handed 'Mighty' Mike only his fourth defeat of the campaign as Anderson narrowly edged the final match of the night 7-5.
Earlier on in the evening world champion Rob Cross was unable to dispatch of Simon Whitlock, who ended the campaign bottom of the remaining eight players, as 'Voltage' could only pick up a 6-6 draw with the Australian thrower, so that meant Anderson leapfrogged Cross into third place in the table.
It was an evening awash with draws as Michael Smith - already assured of a play-off spot - was unable to put on his best performance, having been under the weather, and 'Bully Boy' could only draw 6-6 with Raymond van Barneveld, but the point cemented second spot for Smith.
This means that we are now down to the final four in the 2018 Unibet Premier League Darts, and with Anderson taking over from Cross in third spot we will now see Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross clash in a repeat of their epic World Championship semi-final, which saw the latter prevail, and Anderson will do battle with Smith in the other eliminator with the winners progressing to a marquee best-of-19 legs final.
Unsurprisingly, van Gerwen will head into the Finals Night as the favourite to retain his Premier League crown, but with only two wins in his last six games the Dutchman will line-up not in his best form in this event, and all three rivals will feel they have a chance of landing the coveted trophy on what should be a tremendous crescendo to a sensational tournament.
Unibet Premier League
Night 15 Results
The BHGE Arena, Aberdeen
Michael Smith 6-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock 6-6 Rob Cross
Peter Wright 6-6 Daryl Gurney
Michael van Gerwen 5-7 Gary Anderson
Play-Offs - May 17
The O2, London
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
Michael Smith v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen/Rob Cross v Michael Smith/Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
Michael Smith v Gary Anderson
It's going to be some night at @TheO2 for the @unibet Premier League Play-Offs 🎯
#Unibet180
