2019 Players Championship 1 

Saturday 9th February 2019

Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan

PDC newcomer Scott Baker got the better of Rob Cross in the second round of Players Championship 1 at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan this afternoon. Cross beat Davy van Baelen 6-4 in the opening round with a 99.13 average before being defeated by Baker by the same scoreline despite averaging 99.96

First Round (vs Davy van Baelen)

Cross got off to a good start in this match with a 180 in the opening leg to leave a 58 outshot which he cleared up in two darts for a 14 darter and a break of throw.

A 12 dart leg followed with scores of 100, 137, 121 and a 143 checkout (T18, T19, D16).

Van Baelen won the third leg in 17 darts with a 73 finish (T19, D8) after Cross had missed a dart at double top for a 154 checkout. Cross followed up with a 17 darter of his own, taking out 74 (T18, D10) to go 3-1 up.

Van Baelen won the fifth leg in 18 darts, hitting the double twenty at the third attempt. The next three legs were won in 13 darts, the first two with double top finishes, Cross got the first to make it 4-2, then Van Baelen won the next, kicking off with his only 180 of the match.

Cross hit his only 180 of the match in the next leg, taking out double twelve to go 5-3 up. The Hastings thrower then missed a dart at double sixteen to win the next as his opponent hit double ten in a 20 dart leg.

Cross closed out the match for a 6-4 win with a 15 dart leg, finishing on 105 (19, T18, D16).

Van Baelen averaged 87.65

Second Round (vs Scott Baker)

Baker, playing in his first PDC tournament having come through Q School last month made the second round with a 6-0 win against John Goldie.

Cross got off to the better start against Baker, hitting a 180 with his second throw of the match and had a great chance for an early break but he was unable to take out 89 with six darts allowing Baker to go one up with a 25 finish for a 17 darter.

Cross hit another maximum to start the second leg and followed it up with scores of 140 and 149, taking out 32 in two darts for an 11 darter. Cross then left 40 after 12 darts in the third leg but Baker finished off 25 again in two darts, this time for a 14 darter to lead 2-1.

Baker left 65 after 12 darts in the next leg as it was Cross’ turn for a 14 darter by taking out 32. Baker then started the next leg off poorly as he could only find one treble in his first three throws. This gave Cross the initiative as he posted another 14 darter to lead 3-2, this time by taking out 48.

Baker broke straight back for a level game as he took out 40 in three darts for a 15 darter.

Missed chances from Baker in the next saw another break of throw. This time with Cross taking out 47 in an 18 dart leg.

Cross failed to take out 52 with three darts in hand in the next as Baker levelled the scores in 16 darts by taking out double top.

Baker then held throw in the ninth leg, taking out 24 in two darts for a 14 darter after Cross had put the pressure on him with a 171 to leave 36.

Cross then failed to take out 32 with three darts in hand to force a decider as Baker finished off 25 in three darts for an 18 darter and a 6-4 win.

Baker averaged 90.77

Conclusion

Baker went on to beat Darius Labanauskus 6-1, Stephen Burton 6-0 and Kyle Anderson 6-3 before his fine run was ended in the semi-finals by eventual winner Michael van Gerwen 7-5.

MvG was in great form all day as he posted three averages above 105 including a 109.45 in an 8-4 defeating of Jermaine Wattimena in the final.

Results