WAYNE MARDLE grabbed his first win of the 2006 Holsten Premier League Darts as the play-off race was blown wide open in Stevenage.
With just the six-game final league night in Reading next week remaining, five players are still in contention for the last two places in the top four.
Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld have already secured their places in Plymouth on 29 May, and both took further victories from the visit to the Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre.
Taylor defeated Colin Lloyd 8-3, while van Barneveld's win over Roland Scholten by the same scoreline left the Dutchman reeling.
Third placed Scholten also lost the night's first game, to Peter Manley, and could still drop out of the top four next week.
Manley's 8-6 win meant that he moved into fourth place, although he has just one game remaining to two for Lloyd, Ronnie Baxter and Mardle.
Mardle took his first win of the year with an 8-5 triumph against Baxter in the night's third game.
Highlights will be available in DartsTV on Friday
Holsten Premier League Darts
Night Nine, Stevenage
Roland Scholten 6-8 Peter Manley
Colin Lloyd 3-8 Phil Taylor
Wayne Mardle 8-5 Ronnie Baxter
Roland Scholten 3-8 Raymond van Barneveld
ROLAND SCHOLTEN 6-8 PETER MANLEY
PETER MANLEY'S dreams of sneaking into the Holsten Premier League Darts semi-finals remain alive after his 8-6 win over Roland Scholten.
Manley picked up just his fourth win of the campaign in dramatic fashion against the Dutchman, with an inspired mid-game spurt helping him to the victory.
He trailed 4-2 at the break, but won the next five legs to secure at least a point at 7-4.
Scholten rallied to take the game into a decider, but Manley was first to set up a finish before taking out 75 with double six to seal the points.
"I always knew it would be a fight up there," said Manley. "There's a lot of pressure because I knew I had to win if I'm to get into the top four.
"I've only got one game left now, against Ronnie Baxter in Reading next week, and I'll do my best.
"Hopefully other results will go my way too and I can get to the play-offs in Plymouth."
The opening four legs of the match went with the throw to leave the pair tied at 2-2 before Scholten took out double top to edge ahead.
He then broke Manley in the sixth leg, with a 165 score setting up a 36 finish to send the Dutchman two legs clear at the break.
Manley responded with five legs on the spin to go 7-4 up, taking the last with a clinical 104 finish.
Scholten opened the next leg with back-to-back 180s and, though the possible nine-darter went wayward on dart seven, he wrapped up the leg with his 11th dart.
He then landed double one to take the 13th leg, after Manley missed seven darts to wrap up the victory.
That took the match into a decider, but Manley recovered to finish the stronger and take both points.
COLIN LLOYD 3-8 PHIL TAYLOR
PHIL TAYLOR delivered a blow to Colin Lloyd's play-off hopes in the Holsten Premier League Darts with an 8-3 win in Stevenage.
Lloyd needed to defeat the unbeaten defending champion to put himself back into the top four, with only one league night remaining.
However, he failed to recover from a disappointing start as Taylor continued his charge to the title in convincing fashion.
Lloyd opened the game with back-to-back 140s, and eventually won the first leg with double one.
Taylor hit back to take the next five without reply, including an 11-dart leg to go into the break 5-1 up.
Lloyd took the first leg after the restart, but paid for missing one dart at double eight for a 136 finish as Taylor cleaned up double five with his last dart to move 6-2 up.
Despite a 180 from Taylor in the next leg, Lloyd took out a pressure double 19 to hit back, but the defending champion responded in 15 darts before taking out double ten to seal victory.
"I was very happy," said Taylor. "I started slowly I thought, but I picked my game up pretty quickly.
"I felt the pressure for Colin, he was trying so hard and perhaps too hard.
"He's the world number one and he's a target for everyone. He's been consistent for three years and that makes him a target.
"It's intriguing who is going to get that fourth place. It's taken some pressure off me being through and I'm enjoying watching the other players battle it out."
WAYNE MARDLE 8-5 RONNIE BAXTER
WAYNE MARDLE gained his first win of the 2006 Holsten Premier League Darts with an 8-5 victory over Ronnie Baxter in Stevenage.
After enduring eight tough nights in this year's league, Mardle had just three draws to his name going into the final three matches.
But he sparked his campaign alive with a superb victory over Baxter, which gives him a chance of making the top four should he defeat Raymond van Barneveld and Colin Lloyd in Reading next week.
The Essex star opened the match with a 180 and landed a further five in the game.
After taking out the opening leg on bull, Mardle hit two maximums in the next only to miss his doubles and allow Baxter in to level matters.
The Essex star took the next three legs without reply to open up a 4-1 cushion, but Baxter suddenly found his rhythm to hit back.
A finish of 90 set him off before the break, before The Rocket roared into life by taking the next two to square the game.
Mardle showed the fight which at times has deserted him during the Premier League this year by finding another gear of his own.
He won the next three legs to ensure at least a fourth point of the campaign, though Baxter took out double 18 to stay in the game at 7-5.
Mardle landed a maximum in the next, and then landed double 20 for the match after his opponent failed to take out double top for a 119 finish.
"I've been very mediocre for so long but Ronnie was off at some point during the match and I punished him," said Mardle.
"I've got great sponsors and had super backing from my family, who have had to watch me lose for eight weeks, so winning this means a lot.
"It is mathematically possible that I can qualify, but I've got Raymond van Barneveld and Colin Lloyd left and I'd have to beat them both.
"I'm just trying to enjoy it now and hopefully I'll go out winning all three games.
"I don't play to lose games but I was an also-ran and I've never been that before. I'm determined to finish well."
ROLAND SCHOLTEN 3-8 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD completed the double over Roland Scholten with an 8-3 victory in the all-Dutch Holsten Premier League clash in Stevenage.
The four-times World Champion won by the same scoreline when the pair met earlier in the tournament, and was in top form to see off his fellow countryman.
Van Barneveld took the first four legs without reply to open up a commanding lead from the off, including a 110 finish in the second leg.
Scholten landed his first maximum in reply in the fifth leg, and took out the night's highest checkout of 137 to get off the mark.
He won the next to go into the break only 4-2 behind, but van Barneveld regained his cushion by taking the first two after the restart.
Scholten landed a second maximum to start the ninth leg, and eventually landed double top to stay alive.
But van Barneveld wasted little more time, taking the next two legs to ensure second place in the table and leave Scholten facing an anxious final week in Reading.
"Next week will be very exciting," said van Barneveld, who plays three times in Reading after missing the night in Wolverhampton earlier in the league.
"I play three times and I want to win every game I can. I've already qualified but that means I have no pressure and I can play my best next week."