St Leonards star back in the winner's circle

Rob Cross claimed his first Professional Darts Corporation title since being crowned world champion yesterday (Saturday).
Rob Cross won Players Championship 13 in Wigan yesterday. Picture courtesy Michael Cooper/PDCRob Cross won Players Championship 13 in Wigan yesterday. Picture courtesy Michael Cooper/PDC
Rob Cross won Players Championship 13 in Wigan yesterday. Picture courtesy Michael Cooper/PDC

The St Leonards-based thrower won Players Championship 13 at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan after defeating Ian White 6-4 in the final.

“When I turned up today I believed I could do great things,” said Cross.

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“I was maybe a bit fortunate today, a few people missed match darts against me but I was there to get the job done and get the important wins.

“Ian is a great player - the way he holds himself, he does everything as a true professional and he fought back hard in that final, maybe it could’ve gone the other way.

“I’m still learning and I’m going to get even better – when I’m complete as a player I will win even more but it feels great to win a title again.”

The world number three produced a 100.3 average in his second ProTour final of 2018 to stave off a comeback from White, who fought back from 4-0 down to level at 4-4.

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A see-saw final saw Cross take the opening four legs thanks to some high scoring and clinical finishing, but after he missed darts to make it 5-0, White won four straight legs of his own.

White then missed six darts at double to go ahead and Cross break throw to go within a leg of victory.

Cross wrapped up the win with an impressive 13-dart hold of throw in the next leg to seal a fifth Players Championship title of his career and the £10,000 first prize.

Voltage, as Cross is nicknamed, earlier came through the first two rounds fairly comfortably, seeing off Kevin Burness 6-1 and William O’Connor 6-3.

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He then came through three consecutive deciding leg battles, edging out Ron Meulenkamp, John Henderson and Jonny Clayton 6-5, before outgunning Stephen Bunting 6-1 in the semi-finals.

Cross will be targeting further success in Players Championship 14 at the same venue today.

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