Barring some issues with darts dropping out of the board,
Dave Chisnall produced an impressive display to down Andrew Gilding 3-1 in sets and will return after Christmas for potentially another clash with his fellow St Helens ace Stephen Bunting or Leonard Gates at the PDC
World Darts Championship.
It was a 3-1 sets triumph in a match that saw Chisnall come from 1-0 down to seal the win with both playing their part seeing 14 180's between them and a 97 average for the victor.
After Chisnall messed around on the doubles in the opening leg, Gilding pinned 100 to break. He held throw from there with a 180 and double 20 to go 2-0 up. An 88 checkout saw him seal the set.
Gilding missed 69 on double 20 to hold and Chisnall returned to pin double six for a break. A 99 checkout saw Chisnall go one away from a set back. He hit a fifth and sixth 180 but missed the eighth dart for a nine-dart finish only to return for 32 for the set.
A 56 checkout saw Chisnall hold in set three. He missed two darts for a break only for Gilding to miss two at the same target and Chisnall took aim only for double three to fall out. But three more darts were missed by Gilding and Chisnall hit double one for 2-0.
Gilding broke back on double 20. A 159 was in vein for Chisnall as Gilding sent it to a decider. A 62 checkout saw Chisnall go 2-1 up in sets.
Chisnall missed 157 in a flying dart and Gilding held to begin set four. The former missed 121 on double 14 for a hold and Gilding hit double 20 for a break.
Chisnall missed more darts at double but returned with Gilding missing the big number on 74 and the former made it 2-1 and was throwing for a set decider.
Chisnall set up double 20 and held throw to send it to that decider. Gilding missed 150 on double 18 for the set and Chisnall returned for 58 for the match.