Ladbrokes Darts Masters 2020 Day Three preview and order of play: Final eight face off in Milton Keynes

The first silverware of the season will be handed out at the Ladbrokes Masters on Sunday as the eight remaining hopefuls bid to become the new name on the trophy.

The elite invitational draws to a close at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, with the afternoon session playing host to the Quarter-Finals, before the Semi-Finals and final take centre stage in the evening.

Peter Wright began life as World Champion with an impressive opening display on Saturday night, averaging 103.5 in a 10-7 win over Joe Cullen.

The world number two now aims to follow that up by securing a second successive Semi-Final appearance at the Ladbrokes Masters by overcoming a new-look Dave Chisnall.

Chisnall sported a pair of glasses on stage for the first time and put on a fine spectacle to defeat Daryl Gurney 10-8 with nine 180s to his name.

Masters runner-up in 2016, Chisnall was also a beaten finalist in last October’s World Grand Prix and could count himself unfortunate to narrowly miss out on a place in the Premier League.

Wright has dominated this fixture of late, losing just one of their last nine encounters, including a 16-12 success in the Quarter-Finals of the Grand Slam last November.

Wright aims to build on his bright start (Photo by Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Arch rivals Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson go head-to-head for the second time in this competition as the Scot aims to end a run of three straight defeats to his recent nemesis.

The pair were involved in a hugely controversial Grand Slam final in 2018, which Price won to claim his first major title before doing the double on Anderson in the Quarter-Finals 12 months later on the way to retaining the title.

Price fended off a spirited fightback from Simon Whitlock from 9-4 down to edge through in a nail-biting last-leg decider on Saturday, while Anderson averaged 97 in an assured 10-8 win over Ian White.

Anderson was runner-up here in 2017 but missed this tournament last year through injury and will be keen to continue his revival by getting one over on the passionate Welshman.

Jonny Clayton aims to follow up his First Round scalp of defending champion Michael van Gerwen when he comes up against UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall.

Clayton turned on the style to become the first player to beat MVG at The Masters since 2014 and now looks to continue his landmark run in this competition.

Aspinall marked his Masters debut with a 10-4 rout of an out of sorts James Wade and knows he must put at least seven points on his match average of 90.6 if he is to halt the tenacious Welshman.

Aspinall is vying for his third televised title in the space of ten months following his successes at the UK Open and U.S Masters, while former Players Championship Finals runner-up Clayton his chasing down his first.

The opening Quarter-Final sees multiple major finalist Michael Smith take on two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis.

Smith began the new season superbly with a 101.8 average in a high quality win over Mensur Suljovic on Friday and will be keen to maintain that level in what promises to be fast-flowing contest.

Smith has lost in two previous Masters Quarter-Finals and has lost his last three televised meetings with ‘Jackpot’ – dating back to 2015.

Lewis progressed with the lowest winning average of the opening round (87.8) in dispatching a below-par Rob Cross 10-5 and knows he requires a significant improvement if he is to reach the final session.

Runner-up in the inaugural Masters in Edinburgh seven years ago, Lewis has enjoyed a steady resurgence which has seen him climb back up to 13th in the Order of Merit.

The action gets underway from 1pm GMT, with Quarter-Final matches to be contested over the best of 19 legs and Semi-Finals and final best of 21.

BET ON & WATCH THE MASTERS STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)

Ladbrokes Masters 2020 Match Schedule

Sunday February 2

Afternoon Session (12.45pm-4.45pm)

Quarter-Finals
Adrian Lewis v Michael Smith
Jonny Clayton v Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson
Peter Wright v Dave Chisnall

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)

Semi-Finals
Clayton/Aspinall v Smith/Lewis
Wright/Chisnall v Anderson/Price

Final