Archive News - July 2017

30th June.- 2nd July 2017

Euro Tour 8 - European Darts Open (Leverkusen)

Rob Cross was seeded 16th in the HappyBet European Darts Open taking place in Leverkusen, Germany and received a bye to the second round where he played host nation qualifier Robert Allenstein.

 

Cross picked up a convincing 6-0 win against Allenstein as he started the match in fine fettle by reeling off the opening four legs in 16, 15, 14 and 14 darts, hitting maximums in the second and third legs and taking out finishes of 36, 97 (19, T18, D12), 80 (T16, D16) and 72 (T20, D6). In the fifth leg Cross was down to a double after eleven darts and eventually fired home double four for a 20 dart leg with his opponent still back on 87. The final leg was won in 19 darts after a few more missed doubles but in the end it was a convincing victory. Cross averaged 92.02.

 

In the third round, Cross was in great form as he beat world number one and current world champion Michael van Gerwen 6-2. Cross posted two finishes of 108 and one of 121, hit four maximums and averaged 102.30 in a scintillating victory. Cross won the bull off and started with a comfortable hold, checking out on double 18 for a 13 darter. He then went two up after MvG missed a dart at the bull, by checking out on 108 (T19, 19, D16) for a 12 darter. Van Gerwen replied with an 81 checkout for a 12 darter himself and then levelled with a 15 dart leg. Cross then stepped up the heat by hitting 180, 100, 100 and finishing off on 121 (T20, 11, bull) for another 12 darter to go 3-2 up. Cross made it 4-2 with a 13 dart leg finishing on double ten. Van Gerwen then missed seven darts at a double as Cross made it 5-2 in 20 darts and checked out on 108 (T19, 19, D16) to claim his first victory over the world number one. Cross has now beaten eighteen of the PDC's top twenty ranked players this year.

 

Mervyn King put an end to Cross's run at the quarter-finals stage, with a 6-2 win. Cross got off to a good start by taking the opening leg in 14 darts but King responded well by winning the next three in 17, 15 and 14 darts to establish a two leg cushion. Cross then took out 138 (T18, T16, D18) for a 12 dart leg to trail 3-2 before King won the next three legs in 13, 17 and 20 darts to advance to the semi-finals.Cross hit two maximums and averaged 94.06. King averaged 96.90. This was Cross's fourth Euro Tour quarter-final appearance in his debut year on the PDC circuit.

 

King went on to make the final where he lost out to Peter Wright 6-2.

 

Cross won £4,000 in prize money.

3rd July 2017

Cross moves into the Top 50

Following another quarter-final appearance on the Euro Tour, Rob Cross has moved inside the Top 50 in the PDC Order of Merit. Moving up to 49th above Ricky Evans and Josh Payne. Cross has also moved up to 14th on the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

8th July 2017

Players Championship 15 (Barnsley)

Rob Cross was seeded ninth for Players Championship 15 in Barnsley and made it through to the third round with 6-3 wins against Ritchie Edhouse and Aden Kirk.

 

Jonny Clayton dug out a 6-4 victory against Cross in the third round as they met for the fourth time this year.

 

Clayton went on to make the quarter-finals where he was beaten 6-2 by Kyle Anderson.

 

Darren Webster beat Daryl Gurney 6-1 in the final.

9th July 2017

Players Championship 16 (Barnsley)

Rob Cross was seeded ninth for Players Championship 16 in Barnsely where he made it through to the fourth round with wins against Yordi Meeuwisse 6-1, Kevin McDine 6-3 and Scott Taylor 6-3.

 

In the fourth round, Ian White fought back from 3-1 down to defaet Cross 6-4.

 

Cross was in great form in the opening round as he averaged 111.13, hitting four maximums, one in each of the opening four legs. He also hit 177 in the fifth leg. Cross kicked off with a 14 dart opening leg and took out 85 (T19, D14) for an 11 darter to go 2-0 up. His Dutch opponent then had a 13 dart leg after Cross had missed a dart at the bullseye. Cross wrapped up the victory with legs of 13, 13, 16 and 15 darts.

 

In his fourth round tie against Ian White, Cross won the opening leg in 12 darts, finishing on 122 (T18, T18, D7), Ian levelled with a 17 darter then Cross went back in front by hitting tops for a 16 darter. Cross then broke throw with a 12 dart leg, finishing on 90 (T18, x, D18) to lead 3-1. White then won the next four legs, hitting a maximum in each, in 15, 17, 15 and 17 darts. Cross took out double sixteen for a 17 darter to trail 5-4 and missed two darts at the same double in the next as White claimed victory by taking out 25 in a 14 dart leg. Cross hit three maximums, a 177, a 171 and averaged 99.38. Ian hit six maximums and averaged 93.14.

 

White went on to lose 6-4 against Steve Beaton in the quarter-finals.

 

Joe Cullen beat Zoran Lerchbacher 6-4 in the final.

 

Cross won £1,500 in prize money.

24th July 2017

BetVictor World Matchplay - First Round (Blackpool)

Rob Cross inflicted Ian 'Diamond' White's first opening round defeat at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool with a 10-7 victory in the BetVictor World Matchplay. Full report here.

26th July 2017

BetVictor World Matchplay - Second Round (Blackpool)

Two time world champion Adrian Lewis has beaten Rob Cross 11-8 in the second round of the BetVictor World Matchplay in Blackpool in a high class match that toppled in Lewis's favour in a crucial 18th leg when Cross missed one dart at double 16 to hold throw. Lewis checked out then held in the next leg to claim victory.. Lewis averaged 100.93. Rob averaged 104.08. Full report here.

31st July 2017

Cross breaks into the Top 40

Rob Cross has jumped up seven places from 47th to 40th in the PDC Order of Merit following his second round appearance at the BetVictor World Matchplay last week.

>>>>> August 2017 <<<<<