Ladbrokes World Series Of Darts Finals

Glasgow, Scotland

Friday 3rd November 2017 - Sunday 5th November 2017

Having come through the qualifying at the Barnsley Metrodome last month, Rob Cross was unseeded for the Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow. Cross made it through to the quater-finals where he was beaten 10-4 by current world champion Michael van Gerwen who averaged 108.83.

'Voltage' came through the opening round with a 6-1 win against Jonny Clayton having lost the opening leg as Clayton took out 61 (25, D18) for a 14 darter. Cross hit two maximums and averaged 97.93 as he took out legs two, three and four in 18, 17 and 17 darts. The Hastings hot-shot then stepped up his play with back-to-back twelve darters. The first was won with scores of 100, 100, 180 and a 121 checkout (T20, T11, D14) and the second with scores of 180, 140, 105 and a 76 finish (20, 20, D18). The final leg was taken out in 16 darts. Clayton hit two 180's and averaged 88.16.

In the second round, Cross came through a last leg decider to beat Kyle Anderson 6-5 after the Australian fought back from 5-2 down. The win included five maximums and an average of 98.70. Cross was in great form early in the match as he hit double sixteen in the opener for a 13 darter. Anderson levelled with a 13 dart leg himself then Cross won the next in 18 and broke throw with a 12 dart leg scoring 100, 177, 180 and taking out 44 (12, x, D16). 

Anderson hit straight back with a 12 darter himself scoring 123, 140, 180 and taking out 58 (18, x, D20). Another break from Cross, this time in 15 darts put him 4-2 up. The lead was extended as he found double four for an 18 dart leg. Anderson then rattled off three straight legs in 13, 14 and 18 darts. The last of those legs saw him checkout on 92 (bull, 10, D16). Cross took out double eighteen in the final leg to close the match with an 18 darter and book his place in the last eight. Anderson hit three maximums and averaged 97.81.

The quarter-final tie against Michael van Gerwen started off with the opening four legs being shared. Cross won the opener in 15 darts by taking out 120 (T20, 20, D20). MvG levelled in 14 darts then Cross took out 101 (T20, 9, D16) in a 12 dart leg that opened up with scores of 140, 180 and 80. The Dutchman won the next in 14 darts then he broke in 13 darts to go 3-2 up. MvG then held throw by 

taking out 72 (16, 16, D20) for a 15 darter. The PDC rookie took out double eight for a 17 darter, MvG went 5-3 up hitting double six for another 15 darter then Cross took out 70 (18, 20, D16) to close out the next in 15 to trail 5-4. MvG then reeled off five straight winning legs in 11, 13, 16, 11 and 14 darts to advance to the semi-finals. The first of the eleven dart legs consisted of scores of 180, 98, 131 and a 92 finish (T20, D16). The other was won with scores of 140, 180, 145 and a finish of 36 (18, D9). Cross hit five 180's and averaged 96.84. MvG hit four 180's.