• Victory over friend Nathan Aspinal books Smith’s playoff place
• ‘I wanted him there with me but I’m really chuffed,’ says Smith

A tearful Michael Smith put friendship aside to win his Premier League shootout with Nathan Aspinall and qualify for next week’s playoffs at the O2 Arena.

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