Coverage continues on the Sky Sports app on Tuesday from 7.30pm
Tuesday 12 May 2020 07:21, UK
Portugal's 'Man 'o' Scores' Jose de Sousa produced the performance of the PDC Home Tour so far, to sweep to three consecutive victories on a high-scoring Night 25.
De Sousa, who burst onto the PDC scene last year with two ranking titles, was near flawless to win all three matches and lose just one leg in the process, becoming the ninth nationality to top a group and make the second stage.
Three-time major champion Robert Thornton and the returning Keegan Brown were also in action on Monday night, but both were swept aside by De Sousa who was left to slog it out with Reece Robinson for top spot in the fifth match of the evening.
Having won 5-0 in his first two matches, De Sousa needed just two legs from his match with Robinson and despite losing the first, he reeled off the next five to seal the most dominant performance of the 25 nights so far.
Firing in eight 180s in just 16 legs, he recorded an average of 104.97 for the night, topping Ryan Searle's previous best of 100.23 that accounted for James Wade on Night Six.
Brown kicked off the evening as the headline act, and not just as the highest-ranked player in the field. The NHS worker has been putting in extra shifts in a blood lab on the Isle of Wight in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
His internet let him down on Night 12, forcing him to withdraw, but given a reprieve he was first up against Robinson and started in style, racing into 3-0 and 4-1 leads. Robinson battled back to force a decider where Brown took the honours.
That proved to be just the starting gun for the evening's fireworks as De Sousa, originally from Lisbon but now based in Madrid, blasted out of the traps to average almost 110 and hammer Thornton 5-0, sealing victory with a brilliant 12-dart leg.
Thornton had little time to recover, he was on the receiving end of another onslaught as Robinson averaged 111 to beat the Scot 5-2. Thornton's defeat meant he was out despite averaging more than 100 himself.
De Sousa, known as The Special One, lived up to his billing to knock off a second successive whitewash and sit in pole position with a 5-0 win over Brown. That meant only Robinson could deny the Portuguese thrower in their head to head.
The 27-year from Hull got off to the perfect start by becoming the first man to take a leg off De Sousa. But needing victory by at least four legs his hopes were over when De Sousa took the next two in the blink of an eye, and reeled off the next three for a 5-1 win and an almost perfect night's work.
The PDC's 32-night first round is entering its final week, and with all Tour Card holders given a chance to play, the final groups will be filled by those in second spot.
Places in Groups 26-32 for previous group runners-up are being allocated based on PDC Order of Merit position, with higher-placed players being given the first option to compete for a second time.
Michael Smith and Steve Beaton have already been confirmed while Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price are among the names who could yet feature going forward.
Get the biggest and latest sports news stories with dedicated sports sections for Football, Formula 1, Boxing, Cricket, Golf, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Tennis, NFL, NBA, Darts, GAA, Netball, Racing and Other Sports.
Sky Sports - on the go! Available to download now on - iPhone & iPad and Android
