Michael Smith beats good friend Nathan Aspinall en route to Sheffield victory

A tearful Michael Smith put his friendship aside to win the Premier League shoot-out with Nathan Aspinall and qualify for next week’s play-offs at the O2 Arena.

The 2023 world champion beat his good friend Aspinall 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the final round of the league stage in Sheffield to join Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen in London.

Smith continued to celebrate his progress in style by winning Night 16 in the Steel City after defeating Littler in the semi-finals and Humphries in the final.

But the job was done after his opening win against Aspinall, with whom he recently went on holiday, which came in large part thanks to a memorable combination of bull, bull, double 16 on a checkout of 132.

Smith apologized after ending his partner’s play-off hopes and was in tears.

“It’s a bit overwhelming,” he said after beating Aspinall. “I cry more than I did when I won the world. It must have been good.

“That 132, I knew it would hurt him. I wanted to do cartwheels and backflips, but because it was Nathan, I had to keep my cool and respect.

“I apologized, I wanted him there with me, it’s hard. But I’m very suffocated.

“It feels good to win, I said before the semifinals that I have nothing left.”

Smith’s semi-final win over Littler will see him into next week’s play-off semi-final between the pair, but the teenager ensured he topped the rankings thanks to his quarter-final victory over Peter Wright.

Littler also created a new record as his tally of 42 points is the most posted in this format in the Premier League.

Humphries will play Van Gerwen in the other semi-final next week.

Wright has won just two games in 16 nights a week and with his results declining over the past year, this could end up being his last Premier League campaign.

Gerwyn Price also doubted whether he would play in the event again after his quarter-final loss to Humphries.

“So happy it’s done and dusted, the end of the Premier League for me now,” he said on Instagram. “I’m looking forward to putting my full focus on ranked events from now on. I’d love to say I loved it, but I’d be lying. #no more.”