Cross begins defence of World title with victory over De Zwaan who in defeat hits second highest losing average in World Championship history

Rob Cross has began the defence of his World title with a brilliant three-one victory over Jeffrey de Zwaan who lost with the second highest losing average in the history of the tournament.

Cross as a result has sent a message to the rest of the players in the tournament that he is back towards his best. In terms of averages, he averaged 104 with De Zwaan hitting 106 in defeat in what was a thrilling match.
In the opening set, it was De Zwaan who stole a march with a 52 and 87 checkout; this in turn broke the throw of the World Champion. He completed a clean sweep of the set with a double ten to average 107 handing Cross; handing him only one shot at a double in the set in the process.
Cross came out the gates in the second set and played a lot better but De Zwaan sent it to a deciding leg when ‘Voltage’ went two-one up. There was sheer panic on the face of Cross but he showed his class hitting 140, 140 followed by a 96 checkout to steal the set.
In the next set, Cross took the initiative pouncing on a 119 checkout miss from de Zwaan hitting a 35 checkout to break the throw. He went two-nil up hitting a brilliant 72 checkout to go within one of taking the lead. Cross took the set with De Zwaan sitting on double eighteen to break and level up and he did so with a magical 121 checkout on the bull.
De Zwaan broke but Cross came back in style to break back after JDZ left himself on a non out shot. Both players though were averaging over 100 and playing brilliantly. ‘Voltage’ hit a thirteen darter to go within one of victory and to defy a 108 average from De Zwaan.
De Zwaan missed two darts at a double going for an 84 checkout and Cross punished it to win the match and start his world title defence in a show of class.
Click here for more information about the PDC World Darts Championship, including schedules and the prize fund breakdown.

December 13 schedule

Jeffrey de Zwaan (91.18) 3-0 (77.75) Nitin Kumar
Martin Schindler (85.18) 2-3 (88.66) Cody Harris
Jan Dekker (88.95) 3-1 (88.56) Lisa Ashton
Rob Cross (102.93) 3-1 (106.09) Jeffrey de Zwaan
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