Saturday 21 April 2018 13:08, UK
Raymond van Barneveld beat Michael van Gerwen in their home nation, and Wayne Mardle enjoyed a historic result that lived up to its promise.
It was a magnificent game. Van Gerwen didn't play his best and yet, at one point, he was averaging 105.
Van Gerwen looked tight, he looked worried and stressed - but he can still [average 105]. It doesn't make sense. He's that good!
From Raymond's point of view, he had to win and he won. Keep on winning and see if the others falter, that's the only way he will book a place in the play-offs.
Raymond, when he had to, never missed anything. The doubling stats weren't great but nothing that he missed actually mattered. There were five darts missed in one leg - but [Barney] won that leg. Then he missed the first two, but hit double nine [to check out from 36].
The 64 in the first leg was great. The 68 to win it.
Michael put up a hell of a show and I liked the respect before the last leg - he held out his hand, knowing Raymond held all the aces, and said: 'have a good last leg'.
That was class. There is a lot of respect between these two.
From Raymond's point of view, he had to win and he won. Keep on winning and see if the others falter, that's the only way he will book a place in the play-offs.
You felt for the audience because they had to make up their mind - they went for Barney! But in years to come they will be with Michael.
You can give your opponent a lift by saying [Barney didn't want to play Van Gerwen in Rotterdam]. I don't know how Michael felt about it.
Saying that you don't want a certain fixture is not a positive so, maybe in the future, Raymond will keep that quiet.
The 2018 Premier League will be back for more action next Thursday as we head to the Manchester Arena for week 13. Coverage gets under way from 7pm on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event. Two weeks of tungsten action will then continue in Birmingham, and Aberdeen through to the season's conclusion with the Play-Offs on May 17 at The O2 in London.
Keep up to date with the latest darts news, previews, reports, reaction and expert analysis. Get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts- don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
