Reigning champion Michael Van Gerwen won eight straight legs to sink world number two Rob Cross and leapfrog his opponent at the top of the Unibet Premier League table.
Van Gerwen lost the first two legs in their top-of-the-table clash in Cardiff and was a double away from falling 3-0 behind before a stirring comeback saw him triumph 8-2.
Very happy with that performance and result. Back to the top of the table where I belong. Now the job is to stay there! Great night. Thanks Cardiff. https://t.co/jEyjsQPv0C
— Michael Van Gerwen (@MvG180) April 18, 2019
The Dutchman’s cruise to victory included a 12-dart leg and he averaged of 107.87 in returning to the top of the table in style.
Afterwards Van Gerwen told the PDC website: “It’s nice to be back at the top of the table and it’s good for my confidence.
“It’s really important to me because I’ve been top for the last five years and that’s why this game was important for me to knock him off the top.”
WADE WINS!
A dominant display from James Wade sees him beat Peter Wright 8-2 to move up to third in the table. pic.twitter.com/sJnwZfCcuM
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 18, 2019
James Wade protected his third place in the table with an emphatic 8-2 win over Peter Wright in the closing match of the evening.
Welshman Gerwyn Price delighted his home fans with an 8-5 win over Michael Smith in a match which saw both men land maximum 170 checkouts.
Smith managed the finish in the third leg as he edged 2-1 up before Price replied immediately in the next leg to pull level.
PRICE LANDS THE 170!
Gerwyn Price hits the highest finish in the game a leg after Michael Smith's 170 effort!
That passion from Price🏴👏 pic.twitter.com/42mVzreqEo
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 18, 2019
Price broke to go 5-4 up in the ninth and he extended that into a 7-4 advantage before eventually wrapping up a victory which keeps him fourth in the table.
In the opening match of the night, Mensur Suljovic kept his play-off hopes alive with an 8-5 win over Daryl Gurney.
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