Sporting Life
Rob Cross
Rob Cross

Darts results: Rob Cross wins first PDC title of the year at Players Championship 11

By Sporting Life
Darts
Sat May 20, 2023 · 2y ago

Rob Cross secured his first PDC title of 2023 with an emphatic 8-3 victory over Mike De Decker in Saturday’s Players Championship 11 final in Leicester.

Cross produced a series of dominant displays to scoop the £12,000 top prize at the Morningside Arena, clinching his first ranking title since October 2022 in the process.

The world number five has made a subdued start to the campaign, but he reaffirmed his credentials in some style, dispatching De Decker with a 101 average to triumph in Saturday’s showpiece.

The opening four legs of the afternoon's decider were shared despite a huge disparity in the averages, as De Decker conjured up a spectacular 141 checkout to restore parity at two apiece.

Cross continued to outscore the young Belgian and that was soon reflected in the scoreline, with the former World Champion seizing control with a three-leg burst of 14, 13 and 14 darts.

De Decker replied with a 12-darter to reduce the deficit to 3-5, only for Cross to storm to victory in sensational style, converting 92, 89 and 146 checkouts in consecutive legs to clinch his ninth Players Championship crown.

“I just love winning,” reflected Cross, who moves further clear of Luke Humphries in the race to represent England alongside Michael Smith at next month’s World Cup of Darts.

“In these last couple of weeks I’ve really wanted it again, and I think that’s been a massive turning point.

“Last week I really wanted it but it didn’t quite work out. I’m so glad that I got the win today.

“You’ve got the best of the best coming through now and it’s hard. Even these players that haven’t won titles, they are still so dangerous and you have to do your job.

“I have lost in so many finals in certain disciplines and nobody remembers the runner-up. I was desperate to win, and it’s a good kickstart now. I want to keep moving forward."

Cross kicked off his campaign by averaging almost 106 to overcome a spirited Owen Roelofs, and he continued his progress with wins over Florian Hempel and Scott Waites – accounting for the latter in a last-leg shoot-out.

The 32-year-old stormed through to the semi-finals with comprehensive 6-0 and 6-1 wins over Lee Evans and Joe Murnan, setting up a showdown against Saturday’s surprise package Radek Szaganski.

Cross looked poised to breeze through after racing into a 3-0 lead, although he was forced to fend off a superb fightback from the Pole, eventually winning through in a dramatic decider.

Despite succumbing in his maiden PDC ranking final, De Decker claimed a host of major scalps in Leicester to pocket the £8,000 runner-up and boost his hopes of World Matchplay qualification.

Players Championship 11 results

Last 16

  • Joe Murnan 6-4 Dave Chisnall
  • Rob Cross 6-0 Lee Evans
  • Joe Cullen 6-5 Ryan Joyce
  • Radek Szaganski 6-2 Simon Whitlock
  • Mike De Decker 6-5 Jurjen van der Velde
  • Gerwyn Price 6-1 Scott Williams
  • Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Kevin Doets
  • Jimmy Hendriks 6-3 James Wade

    Quarter-finals
  • Rob Cross 6-1 Joe Murnan
  • Radek Szaganski 6-1 Joe Cullen
  • Mike De Decker 6-5 Gerwyn Price
  • Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Jimmy Hendriks

Semi-finals

  • Rob Cross 7-6 Radek Szaganski
  • Mike De Decker 7-5 Niels Zonneveld

Final

  • Rob Cross 8-3 Mike De Decker

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