Players Championship Finals: Rob Cross into last four
Rob Cross moved a step closer to a potential showdown with Michael van Gerwen as he beat James Wade 10-6 to advance to the last four at the Players Championship Finals.
The rising star of the PDC circuit hit bullseye for a first break of throw in the second leg of the match and from that point on was always in command.
Wade got on the board in the fourth leg, taking out 121 on double 12, but Cross continued to hold with a degree of comfort as he hit double 18 to lead 4-1 at the first interval.
Cross paid the price for a sloppy missed single in the sixth leg as Wade was able to hold on his favoured double 10, but the initiative was returned as Wade failed to take out 81 having forced a rare opening against the throw.
Another double 10 saw Wade keep in touching distance at 5-3 down yet Cross remained imperious with the darts, hitting a trio of 140s as he re-established a three-leg advantage.
Three became four as Cross produced a stunning 148 finish heading into the second break, a potentially decisive blow to Wade who had appeared set to hold only to watch on as his opponent hit two treble 18s followed by double top.
To his credit, the left-hander came out firing, at last forcing an opportunity against the throw which he took on double 10, but Cross broke back immediately to move within two of the semi-finals.
Wade's prospects of turning the match around were dented in the next as he missed four darts at double, allowing Cross to hold, but he dodged a bullet in the next as his opponent missed two darts for the match.
Wade then broke for a second time as Cross missed three more darts for the match before at last stumbling over the line with a 74 checkout for a 10-6 success.
Next for Cross will be a clash with Jonny Clayton, who came from behind to beat Steve Beaton 10-8.
The first seven legs of a compelling duel went to throw, Beaton keeping his nose in front by hitting all three attempts at double with Clayton scoring heavily.
Beaton then sealed the game's first break after Clayton had missed five darts at double, an advantage he held onto to lead 6-4 at the second interval.
Clayton was fortunate to keep the gap to two as he took the 12th leg after Beaton had missed a dart at double four, and capitalised on his opponent's generosity by breaking back before holding for 7-7.
More missed darts from Beaton allowed Clayton to take out 68 and break to take the lead for the first time, and under serious pressure he consolidated to move within one of the match by hitting double top.
Beaton kept his hopes alive to get back within one but Clayton was not to be denied, sealing a hard-fought win with a 70 finish on double four.
On the other side of the draw, local favourite Justin Pipe showed all kinds of character to beat Daryl Gurney 10-9.
Three times early in the game, Pipe levelled having fallen two legs behind, but when his chance to take the lead finally arrived in the 15th leg he was unable to take it, missing double 20 and double 10.
Gurney, having been let off the hook, stepped up a gear to break for a 9-7 lead yet Pipe was not done with, hitting double 16 to get back on throw before holding in 15 darts to force a decider.
Second seed Gurney had the advantage of the darts, but could only leave 143 after 15 and while Pipe's attempt to take out 91 failed when he missed double 16, he returned to complete a stirring fightback.
Pipe will meet world number one Michael van Gerwen who survived a brave fightback from fellow Dutchman Jan Dekker before sealing a 10-7 win and remain on course for a third successive Players Championship Finals title.
The world champion made a storming start, hitting two 180s in a 10-darter to open the game and further legs of 14 and 13 darts as he moved 4-1 up with an average of almost 121.
Dekker took out 102, 100 and double four to hit back and level, and also remained locked at six-all and seven-all with his Dutch counterpart.
Van Gerwen, though, produced a huge blow with a 180 and a 128 checkout for a 12-darter to regain the lead in leg 15, landed his 10th maximum as he won a ninth leg and then sealed a hard-fought win on double 14.
Quarter-finals
- Rob Cross 10-6 James Wade
- Jonny Clayton 10-8 Steve Beaton
- Daryl Gurney 9-10 Justin Pipe
- Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Jan Dekker
Semi-finals
- Rob Cross v Jonny Clayton
- Justin Pipe v Michael van Gerwen