"If I'm not ready for that, you're not ready to win the title": Michael van Gerwen set for key Andrew Gilding test

Three-time World Matchplay champion Michael van Gerwen continued his title challenge on Day Five in Blackpool defying a late fightback from Joe Cullen to seal an 11-8 victory.

After accounting for Luke Littler last round, he survived a late onslaught from Cullen and said there is work to do but he is looking forward to the Andrew Gilding test next.

"I was in control most of the time in both games. Of course in this game I could've played a lot better but I think to go 4-1 and 9-5 up then to break his throw with a lovely leg to go 10-8 up, I was most of the time in control but I made it myself too difficult I think. We all know Joe is a good player, but when he throws them away and thinks my game is gone he's the most dangerous one and that's what happened. I need to make sure I don't put myself in that position but that's darts and you need to make sure you keep winning and it doesn't matter how," said Van Gerwen to Online Darts.

"My scoring power in a couple of legs was really good but also some legs it was really poor but that's something to do a little bit of maintenance tomorrow."

Speaking about Gilding, he lauded the former UK Open champion as a player not to be underestimated and said that if he isn't ready for the pace of 'Goldfinger' or lack there of he isn't ready to win the title.

"If I have to think like that, I have to have a lot of revenges every day of every week. I don't think like that. We all know Andrew is a good player and he's probably one of the most underestimated players on the tour. When he's on it, he can be really dangerous. But I need to make sure I'm going to give him everything."

"I say after the World Championship this is the most important tournament of the year so would be really weird to me to say it wouldn't be important. After the UK Open, he (Andrew) has been playing a bit poorly so he wants to put his fist on the game as well. He doesn't want to let this chance slip out of his hands but that's for me to stop him. I need to make sure I keep playing well and make sure I keep pressure on him constantly."

"I don't think Andrew Gilding is a lot worse than Joe Cullen. Joe isn't going through his best patch of his life. I thought I had poor results lately but if you talk about him, he's had a tough period as well. If I'm not ready for that, you're not ready to win the title."