Players Championship Finals darts results: Krzysztof Ratajski stuns Gerwyn Price as Rob Cross crashes out

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Evening round-up

Krzysztof Ratajski produced a stunning comeback to defeat Grand Slam of Darts king Gerwyn Price on day one of the Players Championship Finals while world champion Rob Cross suffered a shock exit.

Fresh from landing his maiden TV title in that heated final with Gary Anderson in Wolverhampton on Sunday, the Iceman looked as though he was cruising towards the second round at the Butlin's Minehead Resort when opening up leads of 4-0 and 5-1 over the Polish Eagle 5-1 with an average of around 110.

But Ratajski, who won back-to-back titles in the final two regular Players Championship events last month to qualify for this ITV4-televised major, took the next four legs in 13, 11, 14 and 12 darts, with the help of a 123 checkout in the latter when Price was waiting on 56 to force a decider.

The talented Pole fired his second 180 of the match to take control of the leg but despite leaving himself 40 after 12 darts, a pumped up Price piled on the pressure with a visit of 144 to also leave tops.

After taking a few seconds to compose himself, Ratajski fired his first dart into the heart of his target and let out a huge roar to rival the kind we expect from his Welsh opponent.

Both players averaged 105 in a thrilling contest, with Price edging the 180s 3-2 and also hit 63% of his doubles compared with Ratajski's 55%.

The former rugby player didn't do a lot wrong, with Ratajski's brilliance denying him a single shot at a match dart from 5-1 up.

Cross was the biggest casualty on the opening day as he suffered a crushing 6-1 defeat to Cristo Reyes in the final event before the defence of his world title.

Voltage was hoping for a late lift in what has been a largely difficult 2018, winning just two titles since landing the biggest of them all on his debut, but he missed five of his six attempts at doubles and was duly punished by the Spaniard.

Reyes averaged 97 compared to Cross' 94 and was far more clinical on his finishing, hitting 50% of doubles.

Meanwhile Grand Slam of Darts runner-up Gary Anderson, who was unimpressed by Price's antics on Sunday, bounced back from his Wolverhampton setback with a thumping 6-2 victory over Alan Tabern with the help of a 108 average, four 180s and a 104 checkout.

There were no issues for Michael van Gerwen either as he averaged 103 in a 6-1 victory over Matthew Edgar that saw him hit six of his 10 double attempts, including one on tops for a 100 checkout.

The Dutchman is bidding to bounce back from recent disappointments by winning this event for the fifth time - and fourth in a row - before next month's World Championship and some say he's in desperate need of another title having only managed 18 this season, including the Masters, Premier League and World Grand Prix!

Top seed Ian White, who won two Players Championship events during the season, averaged a stunning 111 in his 6-2 victory over Scott Taylor which saw him hit four 180s and six of his eight attempts at doubles.

Peter Wright hasn't been in great form of late but laboured to a 6-2 success over Tony Alcinas although a 92 checkout to finish an 11-darter in the final leg was only enough to raise his average up to 89.

Michael Smith won the final match of the night on the Main Stage with a quick fire 6-0 victory over Vincent Van der Voort, averaging 98 in the process.

On the non-televised stage two, Joe Cullen survived a scare to beat John Henderson 6-5 thanks to a 110 checkout in the decider while Jonny Clayton won the Welsh battle with Mark Webster 6-3.

Stephen Burton beat Jermaine Wattimena 6-5, James Wilson got the better of World Youth champion Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2, Chris Dobey saw off Ron Meulenkamp 6-3 and Danny Noppert knocked out Rowby-John Rodriguez by the same scoreline.

The fast throwing Ricky Evans also sped through with a 6-3 triumph over Jan Dekker while Steve Beaton was the last man through with a 6-5 victory against Kim Huybrechts.

Afternoon round-up

James Wade advanced to the second round of the Players Championship Finals after a 6-4 victory over Ross Smith.

The in-form left-hander won the first leg untroubled and, having lost the second, restored his lead with an 11-dart leg in the third, taking out 92 on double 16.

Wade broke for the first time in the following leg after some sloppy set-up work from Smith, who hit double 18 to break back as his superior finishing kept him in with a puncher's chance.

Returning from the interval, Smith held throw after Wade missed a dart at double top, but The Machine moved up a gear to take out 130 on bullseye in the next to move 4-3 in front.

Again, Ross replied, this time with a 15-dart leg finished on double 20, and it took some quality darts in the next for Wade to keep his nose in front as he took six from 196 under serious pressure.

With the finish line in sight, Wade upped the ante with a pair of 140s, but Ross almost stole the show with a 125 checkout - his second attempt at bullseye just missing to the left.

After Ross returned to miss two darts at double eight which would have forced a decider, a relieved Wade hit double six to edge through to the second round.

Simon Whitlock kicked off his all-Australian clash with Kyle Anderson by taking out 154 for a 12-dart finish and led 5-1 after a second big checkout, this time exactly a hundred, in the sixth leg.

Anderson battled back to get within one but Whitlock responded with a 15-dart leg to seal a 6-4 win.

Dave Chisnall beat Jamie Lewis 6-4 in the final game on the main stage, one in which the winner was made to work hard despite throwing six maximums.

Welshman Lewis drew level at 2-2 with a 122 finish before briefly leading, but ultimately the superior scoring of Chisnall made the difference.

Also on the main stage, a 121 finish was the highlight for Daryl Gurney as he beat Robert Thornton 6-3, Max Hopp threw four maximums on his way to a hard-fought, 6-4 victory over Steve West, and Jeffrey de Zwaan was also a 6-4 winner against Jelle Klaasen.

On stage two, Stephen Bunting held his nerve to beat Richard North 6-5 - thought it ought to have been a more straightforward success.

The former BDO champion won the first three legs, taking out 164 in the second and 111 in the third, but North stuck to his task and two 100-plus checkouts saw him force a deciding leg which Bunting won easily.

Adrian Lewis beat Adam Hunt 6-2, Steve Lennon advanced after beating Ryan Joyce by the same score line, while Keegan Brown beat Benito van de Pas 6-3.

Nathan Aspinall was a convincing, 6-1 winner over Martin Schindler, Brendan Dolan won 6-4 against Michael Barnard and Ryan Searle got the better of Josh Payne, winning 6-2.

Gabriel Clemens beat Andrew Gilding 6-3, throwing two maximums and a 121 finish in the process, while Mervyn King won a poor match with Simon Stevenson 6-4.

There were serious double troubles in the final game on the secondary oche, as Madars Ramza beat Mickey Mansell 6-4.

Five maximums made for a high-quality affair in the main, but Mansell missed six darts to force a deciding leg and Razma needed five of his own to finally shut the door.

Players Championship Darts: Daily schedule & results

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Friday November 23
Afternoon Session (12.45pm)
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
Main Stage (TV Coverage: ITV4)

• Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 Jelle Klaasen
• Max Hopp 6-4 Steve West
• Keegan Brown 6-3 Benito van de Pas
• Adrian Lewis 6-2 Adam Hunt
• Simon Whitlock 6-4 Kyle Anderson
• Daryl Gurney 6-3 Robert Thornton
• James Wade 6-4 Ross Smith
• Dave Chisnall 6-4 Jamie Lewis

Stage Two

• Brendan Dolan 6-4 Michael Barnard
• Josh Payne 2-6 Ryan Searle
• Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Martin Schindler
• Gabriel Clemens 6-3 Andrew Gilding
• Ryan Joyce 2-6 Steve Lennon
• Mervyn King 6-4 Simon Stevenson
• Stephen Bunting 6-5 Richard North
• Mickey Mansell 4-6 Madars Razma

Evening Session (7pm)
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
Main Stage (TV Coverage: ITV4)

• Ian White 6-2 Scott Taylor
• Gary Anderson 6-2 Alan Tabern
• Rob Cross 1-6 Cristo Reyes
• Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Gerwyn Price
• Peter Wright 6-2 Toni Alcinas
• Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Matthew Edgar
• Michael Smith 6-0 Vincent van der Voort

Stage Two

• Jermaine Wattimena 5-6 Stephen Burton
• John Henderson 5-6 Joe Cullen
• Jonny Clayton 6-3 Mark Webster
• Ricky Evans 6-3 Jan Dekker
• James Wilson 6-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh
• Danny Noppert 6-3 Rowby-John Rodriguez
• Chris Dobey 6-3 Ron Meulenkamp
• Darren Webster 6-3 Jeffrey de Graaf
• Steve Beaton 6-5 Kim Huybrechts

Saturday November 24
Afternoon Session (12.45pm)
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
Main Stage (TV Coverage: ITV4)

• Daryl Gurney v Ryan Searle
• James Wade v Nathan Aspinall
• Dave Chisnall v Chris Dobey
• Cross/Reyes v Steve Lennon
• Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock
• Michael Van Gerwen v Keegan Brown
• Peter Wright v Max Hopp

Stage Two

• Stephen Bunting v Madars Razma
• James Wilson v Gabriel Clemens
• Jeffrey de Zwaan v Ricky Evans
• Stephen Burton v Darren Webster
• Ian White v Dolan/Barnard
• Danny Noppert v Mervyn King
• Michael Smith v Jonny Clayton
• Steve Beaton v Joe Cullen
• Adrian Lewis v Krzysztof Ratajski

Evening Session (7pm)
Third Round (Best of 19 legs)
TV Coverage: ITV4

• Four matches on the Main Stage
• Four matches on Stage Two

Sunday November 25
Afternoon Session (12.45pm)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs)
TV Coverage: ITV4

• Four matches on the Main Stage

Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: ITV4

• Semi-Finals (Best of 21 legs)
• Final (Best of 21 legs)

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