Michael van Gerwen eases into Players Championship quarter-finals
Saturday 25 November 2017 22:55, UK
Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross remain on course for another high-profile showdown after both players advanced to the Players Championship last eight.
After Friday's opening day had accounted for Gary Anderson, Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld, the biggest name in the field enjoyed a straightforward day as Van Gerwen beat Steve West and Darren Webster to ease his way into Sunday's finals day.
The world no 1, who is seeded sixth for the event which is based on earnings across 22 Players Championship events across the season, averaged 108 in a 6-2 win over Steve West in Saturday afternoon's second round before returning to the main stage in the evening to beat Darren Webster 10-5 with another 100+ average.
Van Gerwen is chasing a third successive Players Championship title and has won his last 25 matches since a shock defeat to John Henderson at the World Grand Prix. He will next face another Dutchman after Jan Dekker beat Peter Jacques 10-5 in the final match of the evening.
Also in Van Gerwen's half, second seed Daryl Gurney continues to make understated progress through the draw.
The world no 4, who won a maiden major at the Grand Prix, beat Robbie Green and Chris Dobey on day two and he will face a quarter-final showdown with Justin Pipe, who survived a missed match dart from William O'Connor to edge their third-round encounter 10-9.
In the top half of the draw, all eyes are on Cross, the PDC Tour debutant whose only defeats over the last few weeks have been at the hands of Van Gerwen.
The 27-year-old from Hastings is the top seed having won four Players titles and like MvG averaged more than 100 in both his matches on Saturday, first accounting for Steve Lennon before a brilliant performance beat a resurgent Adrian Lewis 10-6 in the last 16.
Cross will next face James Wade after he proved too strong for Ian White. 'The Machine' is enjoying his best televised major display of the year, advancing to the quarter-finals with a 10-6 win.
The final quarter-final will be between former BDO world champion Steve Beaton and Jonny Clayton. Beaton beat a pair of Dutchmen in Jelle Klaasen and Jermaine Wattimena, while Clayton took care of Gerwyn Price and Stephen Buting who had earlier ended Mensur Suljovic's hopes of a second major.
Finals Day
Afternoon Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross v James Wade
Steve Beaton v Jonny Clayton
Daryl Gurney v Justin Pipe
Jan Dekker v Michael van Gerwen
Evening
Semi-Final
Cross/Wade v Beaton/Clayton
Gurney/Pipe v Dekker/Van Gerwen
Final
Cross/Wade/Beaton/Clayton v Gurney/Pipe/Dekker/Van Gerwen
After the Players Championship this weekend, the attention turns to the World Championship and you can follow the race for the last place on Monday with our live stream of the qualifying competition here at www.skysports.com/darts and across our mobile devices, as well as on our Sky Sports Facebook page.
The draw also takes place on Sky Sports News on Monday, while the action gets underway from Alexandra Palace on December 14. You can stay up to date with all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts #LoveTheDarts
