2018 Players Championship 17 

Tuesday 4th September 2018

Metrodome, Barnsley

Rob Cross had a good run in Players Championship 17 at the Barnsley Metrodome, recording four 6-3 victories before losing out 6-5 in a tight match against Daryl Gurney in the quarter-finals.

Last 128 (vs Jan Dekker)

Cross won the opening leg of the match against Dekker with a 102 checkout but then went off the boil as his Dutch opponents won the next three to lead 3-1. Dekker had opportunities of making it 4-1 as the Hastings man failed to find any consistancy but he dug in and turned the tie around by reeling off five straight legs to win 6-3. The win included a 160 finish from Cross in the penultimate leg. There was just the one 180 from Cross. Cross averaged 95.66, Dekker averaged 86.50. Cross now leads the head-to-head against Dekker 4-0. 

Last 64 (vs Tony Newell)

Cross recorded his third win in as many matches on the PDC Tour against Newell as he took this second round tie with a solid enogh performance. An 81 finish in the opening leg got Cross on the board as the first three legs went with throw. The former electrician then had a 12 dart leg, taking out 122 to make it 3-1. The lead was extended to 5-1 then Newell won the next two to narrow the gap with Cross winning the ninth leg for a 6-3 victory. Again, just the one 180 from Cross as he averaged 90.35. Newell averaged 82.23   

Last 32 (vs Vincent van der Voort)

The world champ made a great start to this match as he opened with scores of 137, 140, 180 and took out 44 in two darts for an eleven darter. Van der Voort missed a dart at the bull to level as Cross made it 2-0, this time in 16 darts. The Dutchman then broke throw with a 9 darter with scores of 180, 177 and a 144 finish. Cross broke straight back and then extended his lead to 4-1. The last four legs all went with throw as Cross sealed another 6-3 win. Both players hit two 180s in this match. Cross averaging 93.27. Van der Voort averaging 87.65. Cross leads the head-to-head 3-0.  

Last 16 (vs Dave Chisnall)

This one turned out to be a cracker with Chisnall hitting six 180s and both players recording top class averages. The opening four legs all went with throw, Cross checking out on 120 in the third. Chisnall then took out 107 in the fifth for a 12 darter to obtain a 3-2 lead. Cross broke straight back for 3-3 then reeled off finishes of 70, 121 and 122 to take the next three legs for victory in 14, 12 and 12 darts. Cross hit two 180s and averaged 105.58. Chisnall avergaed 105.03. Cross leads the head-to-head 4-1.

Quarter-Finals (vs Daryl Gurney)

This was a tight match with all legs going with throw as Gurney ended Cross' chances of a sixth Players Championship title with a 6-5 result. Another match with plenty of maximums, Gurney hitting five and Cross four. Gurney won the opener with an 80 finish and made it 2-1 with a 74 finish. Both players were solid with the throw and it was the fifth leg that proved to be Cross' best chance of breaking as he failed to take out 19 with three darts in hand. Cross took out 70 in the tenth leg as he averaged 92.83. Gurney averaged 94.37. The head-to-head between the two players now stands at 3-3.

Gurney went on to beat James Wade 6-3 in the semi-finals. Peter Wright beat Gurney 6-2 in the final. There were two 9 darters on the day. As well as Van der Voort's against Cross, Wade hit one in his 6-3 last eight win against Michael Smith with scores of 177, 180 and a 144 finish.