Gerwyn Price put in a world-class display to secure a 6-2 victory over Gian van Veen to win Night Nine of the Premier League Darts at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Price continued the sublime form he had shown throughout the entirety of the evening in the final, dominating from start to finish to wrap up a trio of 6-2 wins.
It marks the Welshman's second nightly win, adding to his Night Two victory in Antwerp.
The victory moves him up to second in the Premier League table on 19 points, usurping his fellow Welshman, Jonny Clayton, who also sits on 19 points. Littler is still top on 21 points.
Remarkably, the only person to have beaten Price in the Premier League this year is Littler and with the reigning world champion not in his path in Manchester, Price reigned supreme.
It was a truly comprehensive showing from the 'Iceman' in the final. After finding two massive 128 checkouts on the way to 4-0 up, he had such a solid lead he could then just hold his throw on two more occasions to cement the victory.
Despite the loss for Van Veen in the final, it marks another good stepping stone as he continues his return to action just two weeks after having kidney stone surgery. The Dutchman is now in fifth place and one point behind compatriot Michael van Gerwen in fourth.
"I was a nervous wreck before I played Humphries, so that win settled me down," Price told Your Site.
"I played well against Bunting and then Van Veen wasn't on his game in the final, which I was happy with as you always doubt yourself.
"Sometimes you feel you can't miss. I start throwing darts the right way, they sit in the top of the T20 and you start reeling in 'Big Fish'.
"I just want to pick up two points every week and to get a nightly win is a bonus. I think everyone is still in with a chance of the top four."
The flashpoint of the night came in the third quarter-final between Van Veen and Luke Littler.
Van Veen began his evening with a fiery last-leg 6-5 win over his regular foe, with drama unfolding in the last leg between the two rivals.
The match hit fever pitch when the 'The Nuke' angrily reacted as the Dutchman showed his dismay at missing inside on D15 and seemingly saw his opponent celebrate the miss when he turned back towards the crowd.
Although that miss allowed Littler a match dart at D7, he went inside himself before making a crying gesture as Van Veen went up to clinch the contest on D6.
The world No 1 had battled back from 4-1 down to 5-5, but when tempers started to flare, he could not complete the comeback.
Following the match, Van Veen called Littler's reaction "out of order" and said he is "not a good loser".
Van Veen then made it through to the final for the first time since Night Four in Belfast with a 6-3 win over Josh Rock.
Price booked his spot in the final with a sublime 6-2 win over Stephen Bunting, a ridiculous 112.91 average making 'The Bullet's' 107 look inferior.
The highlight came in the third leg as he reeled in the 'Big Fish' and pulled out the celebration. He then rattled off four legs in a row with some sensational finishing, his darts landing so precisely on the outer ring.
In a city he always enjoys, Price began his night with a comprehensive 6-2 victory over Luke Humprhies.
Price was in the zone and it showed as he started off with a 167 finish on the bull and followed it with a 135 checkout on tops, limiting Humphries to just two holds of throw as he kept his foot on the gas.
Elsewhere, Rock made it double delight against Jonny Clayton with back-to-back quarter-final victories against the Welshman.
The momentum continually swung in the contest but, with the Northern Irishman 5-4 up, he found a big break of throw on D4 for another big boost after seven weeks without points.
Meanwhile, Bunting started his night with a strong 6-3 victory over Michael van Gerwen, a 161 finish on the bullseye in the second leg the highlight as he romped into a 5-0 lead.
The Dutchman managed to hit back with three legs on the spin but eventually, Bunting took out D16 to make it into the semis for only the third time in this Premier League.
Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries is defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Your Site. .
