Unibet Premier League
Thursday 22nd February 2018
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
Rob Cross made it back-to-back wins in the Unibet Premier League with a 7-3 victory against Raymond van Barneveld in front of a record breaking crowd of 12,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin.
On the Premier League's first visit to Germany, Cross won the match by checking out on 128 (T18, T18, D10).
Van Barneveld started the better of the two players as he took the first leg against throw with a 78 finish (T18, D12) for a 14 darter. Cross hit straight back with a 14 darter of his own, smashing in two 180s and taking out tops at the second attempt.
Barney missed a dart at tops in the next as Cross went 2-1 up with a 96 finish (T20, D18). then the Dutchman levelled in 15 darts, this time with a 72 finish (20, 20, D16).
'Voltage' won the fifth leg in 13 darts, with a double eighteen finish. Van Barneveld then took out 112 (T20, 12, D20) to make it three apiece.
Cross won the next two legs in 17 and 14 darts with finishes of 52 (16, D18) and 56 (20, D18) to move 5-3 up.
Both players missed a hatful of chances to win the next leg with the Sussex man eventually taking it by hitting double ten in a 19 dart leg.
Scores of 93, 140, 140 and a 128 checkout for a 12 darter sealed a 7-3 win for Cross to make it two wins from four Premier League matches.
Prior to the match Cross said "It doesn't matter how you're playing as long as you're winning and it was good to get the win last week, I'm starting to get back to my old self now.
"I'm adamant that after winning the World Championship, if we'd had a competition the following weekend I'd have kept that momentum going, but when you've got that four-week gap it's damaged me.
"I was like starting again and I've never experienced that before. The Premier League's still new for me but I'm getting back into my routine, playing more and my practice is going well, and I'll get better.
Following the win over Van Barneveld, Cross said "It was absolutely phenomenal tonight and it's great to be a part of something like this, and I'm happy to get the win,"
"Raymond didn't play his best and he wasn't himself tonight, but the doubles went well for me and I'm happy with that. I'm feeling more comfortable and I'm getting there.
"Every week I'll keep getting better and I feel like me again. I'm getting more clinical and though I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent I'm trying to stay focused."
| Results | ||
| Michael Smith | 7-3 | Simon Whitlock |
| Mensur Suljovic | 7-3 | Gerwyn Price |
| Michael van Gerwen | 7-2 | Daryl Gurney |
| Rob Cross | 7-3 | Raymond van Barneveld |
| Peter Wright | 6-6 | Gary Anderson |
League Table
| Pos | Pld | Won | Drawn | Lost | Legs | Points | |
| 1 | Michael Smith | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +14 | 8 |
| 2 | Michael van Gerwen | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +12 | 6 |
| 3 | Simon Whitlock | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +7 | 6 |
| 4 | Peter Wright | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 5 | Rob Cross | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 4 |
| 6 | Gary Anderson | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
| 7 | Raymond van Barneveld | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 3 |
| 8 | Mensur Suljovic | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 2 |
| 9 | Daryl Gurney | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -8 | 2 |
| 10 | Gerwyn Price | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -8 | 2 |