Michael van Gerwen extended his lead at the top of the Premier League with an emphatic display on a night when tributes were paid to Eric Bristow.

A minute’s applause took place ahead of the action in Sheffield in memory of former five-time world champion Bristow, who died of a heart attack last week at the age of 60.

Players past and present lined up on the stage as the crowd sang ‘There is only one Eric Bristow’ in emotional scenes.

Van Gerwen took advantage of nearest challenger Michael Smith losing to Rob Cross by hammering Simon Whitlock 7-1 and moving four points clear at the summit.

World champion Cross beat Smith for a second time this campaign, averaging 106.26 in a 7-5 victory which moved him joint-second with his opponent.

Daryl Gurney and Gary Anderson bolstered their top-four aspirations with victories over Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Wright respectively.

Gurney extended his unbeaten streak to six matches, beating the struggling Dutchman 7-3, while Anderson won the battle of the Scots with a 7-2 trouncing of Wright.

Wright redeemed himself in the final match of the evening, heaping more misery on Van Barneveld with a 7-2 win.