The dartboard moved to Nottingham this week and all eight players were on display as Gary Anderson returned to action. Tonight's matches reflected week six in Glasgow so all the players will have those results firmly in their mind.
Up first was Kevin Painter as he faced Raymond Van Barneveld. The Barney Army in Scotland helped the Dutchman secure a 8-5 victory to begin a run that has seen Painter fail to win in his last three matches. Painter went one dart away from sealing Shanghai in the opening leg, this allowed Barney to immediately break the throw. Painter took-out a round ton to hold his throw at the second time of asking but still found himself 4-2 behind at the break. Barneveld came back from the break and took-out a ton of his own to once again break the throw and extend his lead to three legs. But the Artist broke back in the eighth leg before once again relinquishing his throw to make it 6-3 in the Dutchman's favour. Barney ensured himself of a point but Painter hit two 20s then the bull to check-out 90 and break the throw once more, pulling it back to 7-5. The Artist then provided some improvisation by hitting double top followed by double ten to check-out 120 and force a final leg. But the fightback was ultimately ended by a simple double ten to give Barneveld the 8-6 win, putting him on ten points with Painter remaining on six.
When James Wade and Adrian Lewis met in Glasgow, it finished 8-5 to the Machine and the World Champion had yet to record his first victory in the competition. Three weeks later and the pair are separated by a point in the table with Lewis behind despite playing a game more. The pair traded blows in the opening two legs before Wade secured the first break of throw in leg three. With their rivalry very much talked about, Wade decided to turn it up a notch by hitting two double tops to cheekily check-out 80 and make it 4-2 at the interval. But, if anything, it only motivated Lewis as he soon fought back to level the match at 4-4. Wade then looked to be the first to crack when he was clearly upset by Lewis seeming to walk in the 'inclusion' area. But whether he did or not, if definitely affected Wade and Jackpot was able to secure the break and lead 6-4. The pair then secured a further break of throw each as Lewis guaranteed himself a point. The game turned sour once again in the 13th leg as Wade again showed his discontent for Lewis walking past him. Lewis argued his case for a loose floorboard and went onto win the match 8-5. The players then had a near non-existent handshake to once again heighten what is becoming a volatile rivalry.
Following a heated interview with Lewis. The action continued with Phil Taylor playing against Andy Hamilton, the Hammer was playing despite losing his father last week. Taylor eased past the debutant 8-3 in Glasgow but found himself 2-0 behind to the ruthless Hamilton. However, Taylor instantly broke back and soon found himself 4-2 ahead at the break. Hamilton then checked-out a ton to make it 5-4 which then equated to 6-5. Taylor then guaranteed himself a point before Hamilton forced a final leg via a bulls-eye finish. Both players missed a dart at the bull to end the game and Taylor finally wrapped the game up to already put himself into the semi-finals.
The final game of the night saw the returning Gary Anderson take on Simon Whitlock, Anderson missed last week due to attending his father's funeral. Whitlock came into the game off the back of that whitewash at the hands of Wade while Anderson let the crowd get to him in Glasgow, allowing the Aussie to take the 8-6 win. The Scot fired in a 143 check-out to hold his throw in the second leg. Whitlock found the first break of throw in the fourth leg and went 5-1 ahead at the break. Anderson managed to post another leg before Whitlock went onto win the match 8-2.
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