Unibet European Championship 

Thursday 26th October 2017 - Sunday 29th October 2017

Hasselt, Belgium

Following a great first season on the Euro Tour that has included two finals, Rob Cross was seeded sixth for the Unibet European Championship and made it all the way to the final where he lost out to world champion Michael van Gerwen. 

 

'Voltage' comfortably came through the opening round with a 6-0 win against Martin Schindler, hitting five 180's and averaging 101.33. Schindler hit one 180 and averaged 90.28.

In the first meeting between the two players, Cross got off to a great start by taking the opening leg against the throw in just 11 darts with scores of 133, 100, 180 and an 88 finish (T20, D14). Three missed darts at double sixteen in the second leg for Cross allowed the German youngster a shot at a double as he missed double thirteen for a 146 finish. Cross then hit the double with his next dart for a 16 darter. Cross won the third leg in 14 darts by hitting double four and took out 81 (19, 12, bull) in the next for a 15 darter. The last leg before the break was finished in 17 darts and the match was sewn up with a 16 dart sixth leg.

The Hastings man then beat Dave Chisnall 10-7 in the second round to book his place in the quarter-finals.

 

This match was hyped up to be a cracker but it didn't really turn out that way as both players made sluggish starts with just one maximum hit in the opening eight legs. Cross broke throw in the opening leg by taking out 72 (20, 20, D16) for an 18 darter. He then doubled his lead taking out double eight in a 16 dart leg. 

Chizzy won the third leg in 21 darts by taking out 75 (17, 18, D20) then Cross won the next three legs to open up a 5-1 lead in 16, 15 and 14 darts, producing a 120 finish (T20, 20, D20) in the middle of those legs. The next two legs were shared with 15 darters apiece then Chizzy hit back to back legs in 18 and 16 darts to trail 6-4. Cross won the next two legs in 17 and 13 darts. The St Helens man then fought back with legs of 15, 14 and 13 darts despite struggling with a back injury, to leave Cross just one in front at 8-7. Cross then turned on the style to take the match with legs of 13 and 11 darts, scoring 96, 125, 180 and taking out 100 (T20, D20) in the final leg. Cross hit three 180's and averaged 94.56. Chisnall hit four 180's and averaged 88.29.

Cross then beat Michael Smith 10-4 in the quarter-finals, hitting five maximums and averaging 100.85 in a match that saw him take seven of the last eight legs after the opening six legs were shared. Cross won the opening leg in 15 darts, taking out 73 (19, 14, D20). Smith levelled in 16 darts then Cross won the next two in 14 and 15 darts. Smith then levelled taking the next two in 16 and 15 darts that included a 76 finish (20, T16, D4). The 

Sussex rookie then produced top form as he won the next five legs in 15, 11, 13, 12 and 14 darts that included finishes of 116 (T20, 20, D18), 85 (T19, D14), 130 (T20, D20, D5) and 84 (T16, D18) to lead 8-3. Smith won the next in 13 darts before Cross moved into the semi-finals with legs of 18 and 16 darts. Smith hit just the one maximum and averaged 92.22. 

'Voltage' continued his good form in the semi-finals as he brushed aside recent World Grand Prix winner Daryl Gurney 11-3. Cross won the opening seven legs in 16, 16, 11, 15, 18, 17 and 21 darts. The eleven darter was hit with scores of 121, 180 and 140 with a finish of 60 (20, D20). Gurney got his first leg on the board with a 16 darter. Cross responded by taking the next in 14 darts. 'Super chin' then won back-to-back legs in 14 darts apiece to reduce the deficit to five legs then Cross hit a 10 darter, 

scoring 140, 180, 145 and picking off double eighteen to lead 9-3. The former electrician then reeled off the last two legs with 14 darters to move into the final. 

In the final, Cross performed well but lost out to world champion Michael van Gerwen 11-7. The first six legs went with throw with Cross winning the odd legs in 14, 12 and 14 darts. The 12 darter culminting in a 140 finish (T20, T20, D10). MvG's legs were won in 15, 15 and 10 darts that included a 104 finish (T20, 12, D16). The green machine then broke throw in the seventh leg with a 12 darter only for Cross to bounce back with a 12 darter of his own 

with a 102 finish (1, T17, bull). Another break from Van Gerwen in the next in 15 darts put him 5-4 up. Cross came back again with an eleven darter, scoring 180, 140, 135 and taking out 46 (14, D16). The dutchman then won the next two legs in 14 and 15 darts to lead 7-5. Cross won the next in 15 darts then MvG took the next three in 14, 13 and 12 darts, hitting a 130 checkout in the last of those (T20, 20, bull) to lead 10-6. Cross won the next leg in 15 darts before Van Gerwen closed out the match with a 14 dart leg. Cross hit six 180's and averaged 102.39. Van Gerwen hit seven 180's and averaged 108.91.