GARY ANDERSON and Peter Wright returned to Scotland in style as the pair progressed to the last eight of the 2017 Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals.
World number one Michael van Gerwen also reached the quarter-finals and Dimitri van den Bergh upset Raymond van Barneveld on a scintillating evening at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow.
Number one seed, Anderson averaged 103.57 as he defeated Chris Dobey, a player he helps to mentor, 6-1.
Finishes of 130 and 110 were the highlights as Anderson booked a quarter-final clash with Gerwyn Price after he overcame Corey Cadby 6-5, in a fiery encounter.
The world number 18 averaged 93.86 to set up the sixth meeting between himself and two-time World Champion Anderson, with the Scot currently leading the head-to-heads 3-2.
The pair last met in a Players Championship event in March 2016, where Anderson came out a 6-0 winner and the 46-year-old is looking forward to another clash with the Welshman.
“Bring it on,” smirked the two-time Premier League champion.
“I just want to get up on stage and play darts, if he wants to give it that’s entirely up to him but I’m going up to play my darts, and hopefully play well,” added Anderson.
Peter Wright also delighted the Scottish crowd and will face Daryl Gurney for the 16th time on Sunday afternoon after defeating Justin Pipe 6-1.
The world number two is still aiming to secure the title in Glasgow but believes he will have to improve if he is to beat the Northern Irishman.
“I did enough tonight. It’s tough playing Justin because he is such a good friend but there is obviously more to come,” said Wright after his match.
“Daryl beat me last weekend so it will be nice to play him again and hopefully get a little bit of revenge,” concluded Wright.
Gurney, who defeated Simon Whitlock 6-3 with an average of 103.64, in a repeat of last month's World Grand Prix final spoke about his record against Peter Wright after his match.
“When I first came over to the PDC he used to beat me up for fun but I’m a different player now.”
Gurney defeated Wright in last weekend’s European Championship and is hoping to draw on that as the pair face of in Glasgow on Sunday.
“Sunday is a longer format like it was last weekend in Belgium, so I know I can beat him over that distance. If I play my best I know I will be there or thereabouts,” said Gurney.
World Champion Michael van Gerwen kept his hopes of a third consecutive World Series Finals crown alive and moved safely in to the last eight after a comprehensive 6-1 win over Max Hopp.
The 2017 Shanghai and Las Vegas Masters Champion averaged 102.98 and will face Rob Cross in the quarter-finals after he survived a late comeback to beat the Auckland Masters champion Kyle Anderson 6-5.
The two last met in the final of the European Championship last week where Van Gerwen sealed the title but Cross says he will be ready for the defending champion when the pair meet on Sunday.
"I was flying last weekend and thought I could beat him. If I play as well as I can then I know I can get close to Michael."
Cross has reached number 24 in the world despite only becoming a professional 10 months ago but has his sights set higher.
"I believe I can be number one in the world. I know I've got to earn the right and have a lot to learn like Adrian Lewis did early in his career and like Michael had to do as well but the belief is there."
Dimitri van den Bergh averaged 102 and hit five 180’s as he knocked out fifth seed Raymond van Barneveld to move in to the first televised quarter-final of his career.
After the match the Belgian, who entertained the crowd with his walk on dancing, described how is looking forward rather than back and hoping to change people’s opinions of him.
“I don’t want to be known as Dimitri the dancer, I want to be known as Dimitri the darts player. I love to dance but playing darts is my career and I want to go as far as I can.”
The 23-year-old will now face James Wade in the next round, a man who he looks up to and hopes to emulate in the future.
“I want to become more like Jame Wade, a solid player who can win matches before they’ve even started.
“The kind of player where people just know if you give them even a small chance they will punish you,” offered Van den Bergh.
“I’m really looking forward to playing James and whatever happens I will learn another lesson and improve as a player,” concluded the ten-time Development Tour title winner.
James Wade is also relishing the prospect of playing in tomorrow’s final day of action after a 6-5 win over Simon Stevenson.
“I’m practicing as well as I have since 2009 and I’m going to give my all to this sport again starting from now.
“I’ve not put enough back in and lived on my reputation for too long, you can’t argue with facts and it’s time to move forward again,” said Wade.
‘The Machine’ had led 5-2 but a Stevenson comeback threatened to upset the 34-year-old before he eventually got over the line.
“I let him back in there tonight and maybe was worried about throwing another match away but I’m looking forward to playing again tomorrow now.
“I want to get excited by darts again, I know I can still be one of the best and it is time to prove that,” explained the former Premier League champion.
The 2017 Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals concludes on Sunday with two sessions of action as the remaining eight players look to claim the £50,000 winners prize money.
The season-ending event is being held from November 3-5 at the Braehead Arena, live on ITV4 and through the PDC's series of worldwide broadcast partners, as well as for PDCTV-HD Rest of the World Subscribers.
For tickets, visit www.braehead-arena.co.uk or call 0844 499 1700.
FULL MACTH STATS AVAILABLE IN THE MATCH CENTRE AT THIS LINK
Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals
Saturday November 4 (7pm)
Second Round
James Wade (5) 6-5 Simon Stevenson
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld (4)
Gerwyn Price (8) 6-5 Corey Cadby
Gary Anderson (1) 6-1 Chris Dobey
Peter Wright (3) 6-1 Justin Pipe
Michael van Gerwen (2) 6-1 Max Hopp
Daryl Gurney (6) 6-3 Simon Whitlock
Rob Cross 6-5 Kyle Anderson (7)
Sunday November 5
Afternoon Session (12.45pm)
Quarter Finals
James Wade (5) v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gary Anderson (1) v Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen (2) v Rob Cross
Daryl Gurney (6) v Peter Wright (3)
Best of 19 Legs
Evening Session (7pm)
Semi Finals
Final
Best of 21 Legs