2018 Coral UK Open - Qualifier 3 

Sunday 4th February 2018

Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan

Missed doubles were again the story of the day for Rob Cross as he was beaten in his opening match for the third day running in Coral UK Open Qualifier 3 in Wigan, going down 6-5 to Ryan Meikle. Meikle warmed up with a 6-2 win over Mark Lawrence in the last 256 with Cross receiving a bye.

Last 128 (vs Ryan Meikle)

Rob Cross made a decent start to his last 128 match against Ryan Meikle, taking out the first leg in 15 darts against throw with a 111 finish (T19, 18, D18). He then followed up with an 11 dart leg scoring 140, 180, 123 and taking out 58 (18, D20). Meikle then won his first leg of the tie with a 15 darter, hitting double ten at the third attempt. All seemed to be going well for the Cross as he hit back-to-back 180's in the fourth leg, taking it in 16 darts, hitting double ten at the third attempt after an earlier miss at double top, to lead 3-1. Meikle then held throw by taking out double four in a 16 dart leg and broke back with a 76 checkout (T20, D8) to draw level at three apiece. Cross missed a dart at double sixteen in the next as his opponent took it in 17 darts with a 62 finish (T14, D10). 'Voltage' made it 4-4 by hitting double fourteen at the third attempt in a 15 dart leg. One missed dart at double top in the next allowed Meikle to go back in front by taking out double ten in another 17 dart leg. Cross then took out 50 (10, D20) to win the tenth leg in 14 darts to take the match into a decider. Both players had plenty of chances to win the final leg with Meikle eventually taking it in 19 darts by hitting double four. This was the second time in two attempts that Meikle has defeated Cross. The first time was again a 6-5 victory in the second round of a Players Championship event in Barnsley last August. 

Meikle went on to beat Nicholas Bell 6-1 before being defeated by the same scoreline against Mervyn King in the last 32.

Michael Smith won the event beating Zoran Lerchbacher 6-0 in the final. Michael van Gerwen hit a 9-dart-finish in the first leg of his 6-2 last 16 tie with Jermaine Wattimena.