2018 Coral UK Open - Qualifier 2 

Saturday 3rd February 2018

Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan

Rob Cross performed well at the second of six Coral UK Open Qualifiers at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan but was defeated by two times BDO World Championship semi-finalist Jamie Hughes in the last 128. Hughes had already beaten Wayne Jones 6-4 in the last 256. As one of the top 32 ranked players competing, Cross recieved a bye.

Last 128 (vs Jamie Hughes)

Rob Cross made an excellent start to his last 128 match with Jamie Hughes by winning the opening leg in 12 darts with scores of 140, 140 and 177 then checking out on 44 (12, x, D16). Hughes kicked off the second leg with a 180 and took it in 14 darts, finishing on 51 (11, D20). 'Voltage' hit his first maximum of the match in the third leg, winning in 13 darts by taking out double eighteen to lead 2-1. Cross added another 180 in the fourth leg but missed three darts at double six allowing his Tipton opponent to take it in 20 darts with a 56 finish (16, D20). Hughes then broke throw in the next to lead 3-2 with scores of 140, 140, 180 and a 41 finish (9, x, D16) with Cross left waiting on 50. Hughes then held throw to go 4-2 up with a 14 dart leg finishing on 68 (T12, D16) and took out the seventh leg to break throw for the second time in just 11 darts with scores of 180, 96, 180 and a 45 finish (13, D16). Cross also hit a 180 in this leg and missed a crucial dart at bull. Hughes missed a dart at double top in the next allowing Cross to break back by taking out 74 (18, 20, D18) for a 16 darter to trail 5-3. The world champion then kicked off the next leg with his fifth maximum but missed darts at double eighteen and double nine giving Hughes the opportunity to win the match  He did so by taking out 40 (20, 10, D5) for a 15 darter and advance to the last 64. Cross averaged 105.32, Hughes hit six maximums and averaged 101.35.

Hughes went on to beat Andy Boulton 6-3 and David Evans 6-4. He then lost to Peter Wright 6-3 in the last 16.

Michael van Gerwen made it two Coral UK Open Qualifier wins in two days as he beat Darren Webster 6-3 in the final with a 98.33 average. Webster averaged 101.29. There were two nine dart finishes during the day. Robbie Green got one in the last leg of his 6-2 win against Lee Harris in his last 128 match and Ian White got one in the deciding leg of his 6-5 last 16 win against Daryl Gurney.