The crowd are on their feet again. Anderson, merely looking to win the legs on his throw for the 3-1 lead, fills up the T20 bed. With Van Gerwen back in the cheap seats, Anderson sets up tops. Nailed at the first attempt. Van Gerwen is a leg away from being two sets behind.

Van Gerwen is where he isn't very often. Behind. This is one of those strange, dead legs. Van Gerwen throwing first in a set where Anderson has the darts. The Dutchman wins it without fuss, but it's not important in the widers scheme of things. 

Andrew Priestley: Are these two men immune to feeling any form of pressure? I suppose that's what makes them the world's best ahead of the rest.

Image source, AFP

That's big. Really big. I mean, all Anderson has to do for the rest of the night is hold his throw and he will be the world champ. A doddle, right? Oh my word. Van Gerwen a wire away from taking out a 170 finish. Anderson holds, but not without a big scare.

Just like the first two, the third set goes to the fifth leg. You can't get a wet newspaper between these two awesome arrowers. Anderson has a big shot, 161, for a break, hut misses the first treble. He waits on D12. Van Gerwen misses! Anderson nails the red bit! Anderson breaks! He leads with a break! 

Image source, PA

Nine-darter? MVG has five 60s and a T18. 150 left...

T20.

Ooohhh, missed D18.

Can you believe this? MVG had a chance for a nine, but still lost the leg. Anderson wins it with 12 darts. Ridiculous.

Is Anderson wobbling? The scoring has deserted him, even though the crowd sing his name. Van Gerwen, with the darts, is down to the business end first and will have six at 130. Surely this is a done deal? Eventually, after making a bit of a meal of it, double four is taken out.

That's inspired Van Gerwen, who responds with five consecutive 60s. Boos when he misses the sixth, chance of a nine-darter gone. Still, he has 32 to break back. Second chance taken. 11-darter. 

Image source, AFP

Anderson reveals the black ink of a tattooed right forearm every time he pulls it back to project his missile. He's stolen a march on the Dutchman and has the chance of a precious break. He's on 170, top of the shop. Ooohhh, second dart at T20 missed. One at D16 for MVG, but pulled inside. This time for Anderson? Yes! Tops. A break!

The speed at which they are playing means these darting dynamos end up off the stage quicker than they get back on it. MVG with the arrers in the third set.

In case you've lost count, we've had 10 180s in 10 legs.

A 180 with the second visit from Anderson, who is throwing with the smoothness of Barry White's voice. What is that miss? Chance for MVG from 84. Wrong treble. Anderson for 80. D20? Nailed with one missile in hand. Level, you devils.

Inexplicably, the crowd sing about the Toure brothers. As far as I know, they do not play darts. Both players are averaging above 106 at the moment. Stupendous. Standard hold for MVG, Anderson to throw for the set...

Anderson back in the Maximum Motel, his fifth of the night. He's down to 62 after nine darts. Oh no! Misses a four to blow a chance at a double. Very loose. Van Gerwen for 146. Anderson breathes a sigh of relief when MVG misses T19, the Scot clearing up. Still on throw.

Image source, Rex Features

Standard not quite as good in this second set. The referee saying strange things like "six-ty" and "fif-ty-eight". Crowd quieter. MVG takes it from 116. Brilliant. T20, 20, D18. Wonderful.

Stand up, if you love the darts. The crowd sing, so you'd better stand up. MVG, chasing, homes in on that T20 bed, filling it up, pinching the advantage from the gold-chain wearing Anderson. MVG will have 124 for a break. T18. Bull? No, green bit. Double four to break? No! Anderson messing about on double seven. Third one in the bottom corner. Scrappy hold.

Players back on stage. Anderson with the throw in the second set.

How quickly did that set pass by? Remember, it's best of 13. Get involved on the hashtag #bbcdarts. Let me know how and where you're following.

Image source, EPA

Chance for Anderson, MVG opens with 43, only for the Scot to fail to punish. 140s traded, we're already slugging it out like a bar-room brawl. One-hundred-and-eighty! Van Gerwen six from 138 for the set. Anderson waits on D2, but MVG nails D18. Anderson hit four 180s, but lost the set. Bonkers.