Brisbane Darts Masters

Friday 17th August 2018 - Sunday 19th August 2018

BCEC, Brisbane, Australia

World champion Rob Cross won the 2018 Brisbane Darts Masters by beating world number one Michael van Gerwen 11-6 in the final at the BCEC in Australia.

Having beaten Tim Pusey 6-2 and Corey Cadby 10-4 in the opening two rounds, the Hastings hot-shot advanced to the final with an 11-8 win against Peter Wright, hitting eleven doubles in just fifteen attempts.

The final against MvG was a topsy-turvy affair. The Dutchman broke in the first leg after Cross had missed two attempts at double sixteen and then held for a 2-0 lead. Cross bounced straight back by taking the next four legs in 16, 16, 12 and 11 darts to lead 4-2.

Having left 80 in the next leg Cross was expecting to extend his lead further but MvG stepped up and took out 170 to go into the first break trailing 4-3.

MvG then levelled the match at four apiece and took out 130 after two more missed darts at double sixteen from Voltage. Van Gerwen also won the next to lead 6-4.

Cross then turned up the heat as he took the next seven legs to claim the title and his first victory over MvG since the World Championship semi-final epic at the Ally Pally last December.

Cross finished with a 103.81 average having hit nine 180s and finishes of 130 and 76.

As well as the 170 and 130 finishes MvG had a 114 finish, hit two 180s and averaged 98.41. 

In the semi-final clash with Wright both players hit five 180s, Cross took out 86 and 74, averaging 95.79 with Wright taking out 101 and averaging 101.04. This was Cross' third straight victory over the world number two. 

Against Cadby, Cross won six of the last seven legs as he beat the young Aussie for the first time in three attempts, hitting six 180s, checkouts of 88, 81 and 76, averaging 101.02. Cadby hit one 180 and averaged 90.80.

The win against Tim Pusey saw Cross hit two 180s, finishes of 88, 82 and 76, averaging 95.80. Pusey had a 104 finish and averaged 91.47.