A frequent match in the past few weeks in the Premier League Darts has seen Michael Smith face Michael van Gerwen and after spurning a 4-1 lead last week, 'Bully Boy' nearly did the same this time out having to survive match darts to finally fall over the line in London.
Van Gerwen is already qualified for Berlin in a few weeks time but Smith has sealed an important win for his own ambitions by seeing off MVG and with Gerwyn Price also heading out early, it is a boost for the St Helens ace.
He sped into a 5-2 lead with Van Gerwen not at the races especially on his doubling. But a 145 checkout kick started the revival as Smith's average started to decrease and Van Gerwen's form started to rise.
Smith would have been fearing the worst with Van Gerwen making it three legs in a row with a 120 checkout to make it 5-5. Before Van Gerwen was handed a golden opportunity to seal it after Smith missed match darts but in a theme of the match for MVG, he spurned the chance and Smith narrowly sealed it.
Another player already into Berlin is league leader, Jonny Clayton who will now have increased focus on the winners' bonus for sealing the league phase.
The defending champion dented the hopes of his compatriot, Gerwyn Price who was bullish in the week about potentially finishing in the top four in a 6-3 win.
Clayton sailed into a 3-1 lead over Price with a 102 checkout and hit 79 for a 4-1 lead and a break. He was on the verge at 5-1 and looked to make it a quick nights work.
But Price clawed it back with a 127 checkout and after Clayton missed a match dart at the bull, he made it 5-3 with a 68 checkout. This was only a reprieve though as Clayton sealed the deal from there.
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