Tempers flared following a feisty 7-7 draw between Daryl Gurney and Gerwyn Price on night 15 of the Premier League in Sheffield.
The two players exchanged heated words on stage and had to be separated by security guards after Gurney celebrated aggressively having levelled the contest.
Welshman Price said after the match that he was accused of talking when Gurney was throwing.
Tempers flared! 🔥😤 A bizarre end to the game here with Gurney clearly not happy about something, but it ends in a draw with Price as both players' Play-Offs hopes are dented!#Unibet180 pic.twitter.com/CGlxsXFOux — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 9, 2019
The fiery stalemate did little to boost either man's chances of reaching the play-offs, leaving Northern Irishman Gurney in fifth position and Price in sixth heading into the final night of the regular season in Leeds next week.
Table-topping Rob Cross cemented his top-four spot with a convincing 8-4 victory over Mensur Suljovic.
The former world champion is in pole position to claim the £25,000 league leader's bonus after another dominant display.
He averaged 102.66 and threw seven maximums en route to a comfortable success which damaged the play-off hopes of his fourth-placed Austrian opponent.
TABLE! ✅✅Rob Cross and Michael van Gerwen confirm their places at The O2. James Wade, Mensur Suljovic, Daryl Gurney and Gerwyn Price are all still in with a shout heading into the final night of league action in Leeds. 🎟️Leeds tickets: https://t.co/TVwJkupkaj pic.twitter.com/aDsIUjUeMU — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 9, 2019
Defending champion Michael Van Gerwen kept up the pressure on Cross by demolishing Peter Wright.
The Dutchman was an 8-1 winner against Wright, securing his play-off place and remaining a point off top spot.
The 30-year-old produced a superb 110.85 average to bounce back from last week's disappointing defeat to Gurney.
It goes to the final week... Michael van Gerwen with a stunning 110 average as he beats Peter Wright 8-1 to maintain the pressure at the top of the table. But he ruined his 100% record on the doubles in the final leg... this fella is useless 🙄#Unibet180 pic.twitter.com/tRO8O6bkTh — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 9, 2019
In Thursday's other match, third-placed James Wade had to settle for a draw after his throw was broken by Michael Smith in the last leg.
Neither player missed a dart on the doubles in the opening five legs, but the standard dropped considerably in the second half of the match, which ended 7-7.
A brilliant 161 checkout from Wade saw him go 7-5 ahead, but Smith took the final two legs to share the spoils.
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