Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price set up a European Darts championship blockbuster after both progressing.

MVG dismissed Wade 10-4 whilst Price crushed Gawlas 10-3.

Elsewhere in tonight’s European Championship action:

• Aspinall impresses to defeat Heta
• Suljovic entertains his Austrian audience
• De Sousa, Cross, Noppert and Cullen also advance

Van Gerwen brushes Wade aside

Michael van Gerwen showed glimpses of his best as he put down a marker against James Wade with a 10-4 win. The Green Machine average 98 and hit 5 maximums in a dominant display.

The Dutchman produced a 106 out to move 4-1 up at the break despite pressure from a Wade 180. Michael pulled out a 125 out to break for 6-2 and backed it up with an 11 darter for 7-2.

The Machine only held throw once, but it was with a brilliant 142 finish. The other legs he managed win was picking up scraps to break in typical fashion.

Van Gerwen will face fierce rival Gerwyn Price in the quarter finals tomorrow.

Price storms past Gawlas

Gerwyn Price recovered from a slow start to demolish Adam Gawlas 10-3.

The Welshman lost the first two legs, being broken in 12 darts and before Gawlas held for 2-0. But Price then hit D12 for a 119 checkout that ignited him winning 5 legs in a row.

The Czech did get another leg, but looked completely rattled by the Iceman’s recovery. Price hit four maximums, averaged 103, and produced a 10 darter halfway through the match.

He will face Michael van Gerwen in a brilliant showdown tomorrow afternoon in what could be a European Darts Championship classic.

Aspinall handles The Heat

Nathan Aspinall averaged 100 in a brilliant display to see out Australia’s Damon Heta 10-6.

Heta took the first two legs, but a clutch 98 checkout gave the Asp a break in the third leg which seen him on his way. The Heat struck a 104 checkout in the fifth leg to lead at the interval, but that only inspired Aspinall.

The former UK Open champion hit 7 maximums en route to this win and would have won by more if not for sensational 127 and 141 outs from Damon. The deciding leg may have been the 13th, Heta missed two clear doubles and Nathan punishes with an 80 out.

Stockport’s finest eventually shrugged off the Aussie with an 11 darter in the end. He will face Danny Noppert in the Quarter Finals.

Suljovic delights home crowd with dramatic win

Mensur Suljovic seen off a sprited Florian Hempel in front of his adoring Austrian fans.

Mensur was at it from the off, with a 136 finish to end the first leg. Hempel was not fazed however, and despite missing the board on a 108 attempt, Hempel levelled and then moved 2-1 up.

The German pinned a D18-D18 out to level in the sixth leg, but was punished in the next leg for missing two clear at a double and was broken. Suljovic was performing brilliantly, but a 180-124 out combination kept Hempel in the game at 7-5.

The Gentle missed two match darts, and Hempel cleaned up to move us to 9-8 and back on throw, and the same happened next leg to level at 9-9.

However, Suljovic snatched the match last dart in hand at tops to squeeze past the German.

Cross and de Sousa show their class

Rob Cross took a step closer to defending his £120,000 ranking money on the line this weekend. He disposed of Brendan Dolan 10-4 in an accomplished performance. The highlight for Voltage was probably taking out 304 in six darts.

He will face Jose de Sousa- who tad to battle past FIVE ton-plus checkouts from Luke Humphries to win 10-8. The key moment came in the tenth leg, where Luke missed the bull for a Big Fish and Jose swooped in with 123 to pinch the leg.

Noppert and Cullen cruise through

Danny Noppert builds upon his Grand Prix run by thrashing Ryan Searle 10-4. Both men averaged above 101 but the timing of the Dutchman, including a 170 out, was too much for Heavy Metal.

Joe Cullen eased past Willie Borland with a 10-5 victory over the Scot. The Rockstar hit 5 maximums and did not have to get out of third gear in the match.

European Darts Championship Day 3 Results

Joe Cullen 10-5 Willie Borland

Rob Cross 10-4 Brendan Dolan

Danny Noppert 10-4 Ryan Searle

Jose de Sousa 10-8 Luke Humphries

Nathan Aspinall 10-6 Damon Heta

Gerwyn Price 10-3 Adam Gawlas

Michael van Gerwen 10-4 James Wade

Mensur Suljovic 10-9 Florian Hempel

European Darts Championship Quarter-Finals Schedule

Best of 19 (1300  BST)

Danny Noppert v Nathan Aspinall

Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen

Rob Cross v Jose de Sousa

Mensur Suljovic v Joe Cullen