PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 17 

The Barnsley Metrodome

Saturday 5th August 2017

Following on from the BetVictor World Matchplay it was back to the Barnsley Metrodome for Players Championship 17.

 

Rob Cross was seeded 11th and opened up with a 6-0 first round win against Mick Todd.

 

In the second round it looked as though Cross was on his way to a comfortable 6-2 win against 20-year-old Ryan Meikle but a slipped dart cost the Hastings man dearly. Having left eighteen after 15 darts thrown in the eighth leg Cross's next dart slipped badly into a single eleven and he was unable to take out the remaining score of seven with Meikle checking out on 48 on his next visit for a 17 darter to keep his hopes of a fight back alive.

 

Meikle started the match well by winning the opening leg in 18 darts. Cross then produced legs of 14, 14, 19, 12 and 15 darts to take a 5-1 lead with legs five and six won with checkouts of 101 and 104.

 

Meikle then held throw with a 14 dart leg to trail 5-2. Cross's form seemed to dip badly after the slip in leg eight as Meikle finished each of the final three legs in 16 darts to claim a 6-5 win and advance to the last 32. 

 

Cross hit one maximum and averaged 90.29.

 

Meikle hit three maximums and averaged 93.43.

 

Cross won £500 prize money for making it to the second round.

 

Kyle Anderson beat Meikle 6-1 in the third round and then went on to beat Ronny Huybrechts (6-3), Stephen Bunting (6-3), Michael Smith (6-3) and Kevin Painter (6-2) to claim his first PDC title.