bwin Grand Slam of Darts
Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Saturday 11th November 2017 - Sunday 19th November 2017
Rob Cross made it through to the quarter-finals of the bwin Grand Slam of Darts where he last out to eventual champion, Michael van Gerwen 16-13 having beaten Raymond van Barneveld 10-7 in the last sixteen. In the group stages Cross had wins against Joe Murnan 5-1 and Ross Montgomery 5-2 and a narrow loss against Michael van Gerwen 5-4.
'Voltage' comfortably won his opening match on Saturday night, averaging 103.87 in beating Joe Murnan 5-1. Opening up with five perfect darts in a 13 darter. The second leg was won in 18 darts. This was his 1000th winning leg of a great debut year on the PDC circuit. The next was won in 12 darts with scores of 134, 137, 100 and a 130 checkout (T20, T18, D16). Murnan won the fourth leg in 15 darts with a fine 137 finish (T20, T19, D10). Cross then won the last two legs in 13 and 14 darts.
Cross lost out in a last leg decider against reigning champion Michael van Gerwen in the second round of group matches having missed two darts at double top to win it 5-3. In a highly contested match MvG averaged 108.28 and Cross averaged 104.70. Cross kicked off with a 140 checkout in a 15 dart opening leg. Van Gerwen levelled in 17 darts then broke throw in 12 darts, finishing on 134 with Cross left waiting on 36. The Hastings
man broke back immediately then regained the lead with two 13 darters. He then went 4-2 up by taking out the big fish '170' in a 12 dart leg. MvG responded with a 12 darter himself then won the next in 16 darts to make it 4-4. The world champion then won the decider in 11 darts with scores of 174, 99, 140 and checking out on 88 (T20, D14).
Cross put in another decent performance as he won his last group match 5-2 against Ross Montgomery to advance to the knock-out stages. After looking likely to win the opening leg against throw Cross missed chances and the Scotsman took out 125 (25, T20, D20). Cross levelled with a 16 darter, taking out double fourteen and then went 2-1 up with a 12 darter scoring 135, 180, 140 and checking out on 46
(14, x, D16). A decent leg from the BDO player saw him level with a 14 darter. The PDC rookie responded with an 11 dart leg scoring 180, 140, 134 and taking out 47 (15, D16) followed by a 15 darter to lead 4-2. The last leg was won with another 12 darter. After scores of 140, 97 and 100 Cross fired in a 164 finsh (T18, T20, Bull). Cross hit three maximums in the match and averaged 105.76. Montgomery also hit three maximums and averaged 87.43.
'Voltage' came from 7-6 down to beat Raymond van Barneveld 10-7 in the second round. The opening two legs were shared with 15 darters then Barney took out 167 for a 12 darter after Cross had missed two darts at a double. RvB then held in 17 darts to go 3-1 up. Cross won the next in 14, following this the next two legs were shared with 16 darters to leave Baarney 4-3 up. Cross levelled in 12 darts with scores of 96, 121, 180 and a
104 checkout (18, T18, D16). The Sussex hotshot went 5-4 up with a 15 darter then hit another 12 darter with scores of 93, 180, 180 and finished on 48 (16, 16, D8). Barney then won the next three legs in 15, 14 and 15 darts. Cross made it 7-7 with a 15 dart leg. The next leg was the best of the match with Cross scoring 140, 140, 180 and taking out 41 (9, D16) for an eleven darter with Barney left on 81 after hitting three scores of 140. Cross sealed the match with two legs of 14 darts. Cross hit five maximums and averaged 103.87. RvB hit two maximums and averaged 98.30.
In the quarter-finals Cross lost out to Michael van Gerwen 16-13 in an enthralling contast. Cross started well by taking the opening two legs in 12 and 15 darts with finishes of 127 (T20, T17, D8) and 112 (20, T20, D16). MvG bounced back taking the next three in 12, 16 and 11 darts to lead 3-2 at the first interval. The next nine legs were shared as both players held their throws. Cross winning his legs in 15, 15, 17, 14 and 14 darts. The Dutchman won his in 12, 13, 12 and 12 darts.
Cross then broke the Van Gerwen throw to lead 8-7, hitting scores of 140, 137, 93 and taking out 131 (T20, T13, D16). The next four legs were shared, Cross with legs of 14 and 17 darts, MvG with legs of 15 and 13 darts. Van Gerwen then broke in 15 darts to go into the third break at 10-10. The next three legs went with throw, 18 and 12 dart legs for MvG and a 20 dart leg for Cross. The world champion then broke throw with a 15 dart leg and held in 14 darts to lead 14-11. Despite falling behind, the Hastings man never gave in as he took the next in 13 darts. MvG hit back-to-back maximums in the next and closed out in 12 darts to leave himself one away from victory. Cross took the next in 15 darts and missed a couple of darts at double sixteen in what proved to be the last leg as MvG took out 110 (20, T18, D18) to advance to the semi-finals. Cross hit ten maximums and averaged 102.54. Van Gerwen hit eleven maximums and averaged 104.26.
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