World number one Luke Humphries produced a sensational nine-dart checkout to beat Michael Smith at the Grand Slam of Darts.
The winner of the 2023 World Darts Championships, who was leading 4-3 against the 2022 champion, followed a 177 with a maximum and then signed off with two treble 20s and a double 12.
Defending champion Luke Littler secured his place in the knockout phase with a comfortable 5-2 win over Connor Scutt, registering a 105 average.
Beau Greaves, who narrowly lost 5-4 to Michael van Gerwen on Saturday, was eliminated after she pushed former world champion Gary Anderson all the way in Wolverhampton.
Germany’s Niko Springer beat Michael van Gerwen 5-4 to progress.
Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney was also knocked out after Karel Sedlacek missed 10 match darts before finally finishing off his opponent to win 5-3.
Nathan Aspinall, who followed a score of nine with a 180 to win the very first leg, beat Alex Spellman 5-2 while Martin Schindler overcame Stephen Bunting 5-4.
The latter was eliminated after Luke Woodhouse beat Alexis Toylo 5-2 in the final match of the night.
Luke Humphries produced a nine-dart checkout to beat Michael Smith
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Speaking after the event, Humphries said: "I absolutely have no idea where that came from at the end there to be honest."
"It was a really, really terrible performance for myself at the start. I guess this happens in darts, I'm not used to it, but up there it felt hard work, it didn't feel great.
"In practice it was all perfect, I don't feel bad, no injuries, I went up there and it was just really bad for myself.
"Do you know what, the whole leg felt effortless, though."
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Luke Littler secured his place in the knockout phase with a comfortable 5-2 win over Connor Scutt
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"When I hit the 177 it didn't feel hard work and then the 180 felt good and then as soon as the first treble goes in, if you go on 141 it's a lot harder because you have to swap and stuff but the first dart was great and then obviously the second one followed it and then double 12.
"I kind of felt probably more relaxed on the fact that I wasn't playing well."
Speaking after his 5-4 win over Greaves in Group G, Anderson praised his opponent.
He said: "She's brilliant, isn't she."
Beau Greaves was eliminated after she pushed former world champion Gary Anderson all the way
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The Scotsman added: "I've pulled out just about every stop that I've had in the bag tonight to win that game.
"She is going to cause so much trouble next year on the circuit.
"She is by far [the best female player] until somebody else comes along, but I would say that.
"I know Fallon (Sherrock) is a great player, and Lisa (Ashton), but Beau is a wee bit different."
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