Rob Cross defeated home favourite Jeffrey de Zwaan, the final contender but had to work hard to do as the Premier League continues in Rotterdam.
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Cross was 3-1 down but came back to defeat ‘The Black Cobra’ in a 7-4 win with eight 180’s along the way.
De Zwaan started well with a 151 checkout as he doubled his lead and then went 3-1 up with a 109 average.
Cross though started to fight back and went 3-2 adrift of the Dutchman. A break to go 4-3 up was the real turning point for Cross who clawed his way back into the clash.
This was confirmed with a 124 checkout to go 5-3 up and then made it five legs on the spin to claim at least a point.
JDZ claimed one more leg but couldn’t get back fully into the clash and as a result fell to ‘Voltage’.
Click here for more information about the Premier League Darts, including all the fixtures and the prize fund breakdown.
Night Nine schedule
Daryl Gurney (98.28) 7-3 (91.58) Mensur Suljovic
Peter Wright (87.6) 5-7 (94.47) Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross (87.6) 5-7 (94.47) Jeffrey de Zwaan
Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
James Wade v Michael Smith
https://twitter.com/officialpdc/status/1111374584933015552?s=21
De Zwaan started well with a 151 checkout as he doubled his lead and then went 3-1 up with a 109 average.
Cross though started to fight back and went 3-2 adrift of the Dutchman. A break to go 4-3 up was the real turning point for Cross who clawed his way back into the clash.
This was confirmed with a 124 checkout to go 5-3 up and then made it five legs on the spin to claim at least a point.
JDZ claimed one more leg but couldn’t get back fully into the clash and as a result fell to ‘Voltage’.
Click here for more information about the Premier League Darts, including all the fixtures and the prize fund breakdown.
Night Nine schedule
Daryl Gurney (98.28) 7-3 (91.58) Mensur Suljovic
Peter Wright (87.6) 5-7 (94.47) Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross (87.6) 5-7 (94.47) Jeffrey de Zwaan
Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
James Wade v Michael Smith
https://twitter.com/officialpdc/status/1111374584933015552?s=21
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- Agree completely. Not sure how a ranking event can have a criteria not based on rankings. And he right on popularity. In the UK second only to football.BandB11-10-2026
- Doesn't matter who's in it,it's boringrick6710-10-2026
- Assuming you qualify as one of the "muppets" in question. Classist too. And since you're so clearly interested in academia, look up "linguistic descriptivism" while you're at it. Oh, and better stay away from the working class sport of darts and maybe offer your insightful analysis to, let's say, croquet instead?Deduce635806-10-2026
- The consequences of being uneducated and grammatically challenged. "To all THOSE muppets not THEM " Everytime I see Arsepinall, I have an image of him wearing a cap, standing behind the counter of a fast food establishment.richieburnettrocks05-10-2026
- I don't understand Littler's reason for playing this tournament.rick6705-10-2026
- James Wade has become James Wide. He has piled on the tonnage considerably, he barely fits in his shirt.richieburnettrocks03-10-2026
- Littler will play whatever tournaments he decides. But does every headline have to start with him? Bristow bought Taylor through,and he followed that with Lewis. I can't see littler doing the same. Let him choose,and lose,he's getting good at that lately!rick6702-10-2026
- I believe he has it in him to qualify for the Worlds as he consistently wins matches, even if it is only one or two at a time, although his recent PC quarter-final run was somewhat encouraging in that regard. I think there is a lot of pressure for him to retire, people in the media accusing him of tarnishing his legacy. I think that is a ridiculous line of thinking. How ungrateful it is to attach terms and conditions to the amazing moments he has provided us over the course of his career. What position are we in to dictate to him how he should manage his career when it is he who achieved those successes in the first place? What's more, this is his life and the passion that sustains it, it is not for us to decide when his career is over when it is he who must bear the genuine ramifications of that decision. Since I'm sure money is not a concern, the only question on which the decision should rest is whether he truly continues to enjoy competing. He has retired once before, but the desire to compete is what brought him back. We see a lot of negative body language and he does genuinely look miserable when he is not playing well, but only he will know when he wakes up the next day whether he wants to go and do it all over again. If he wants to compete, he should, it's as simple as that, this is a decision that should not involve anyone else but him and his family. He should not retire to indulge the whims of the media or the public. What satisfaction would he receive by being forced into retirement? What closure would it bring to such a brilliant career? When Phil Taylor decided to retire, his decision was final and resolute. I believe RvB needs to get to this point himself, no matter how many 70 averages it might take. We see the likes of John Part continue to compete on a regular basis well past his prime, I say more power to him, and who knows, further glory could be around the corner, it's darts after all, you just never know. Sometimes I worry that RvB is acutely aware of the clamour for him to retire and that this pressure may even have an impact on his performances as he begins to question whether there is even a place for him in darts anymore, further compounding his poor form and creating a vicious loop. Perhaps to take his future into his own hands would provide him with a levity and freedom that would lend itself to better performances, not to mention an improved wellbeing. In any case, it is under these conditions that one can clear-headedly and definitively settle an issue so profound as retirement, not when you feel you're being rushed out the door. If his performances can no longer sustain his presence on the tour, so be it; as it stands his card seems safe for this year but is in serious jeopardy next year. He could always allow himself to drop off the tour naturally rather than forfeiting his place in the top 64, this could provide a sense of finality while offering a route back through Q-School if he so desired; after all, he's done it before. In conclusion, I just hope that RvB can play - or not play - for his own sake, rather than anyone else's, so that when the time comes he can be in no doubt as to his decision, leaving no lingering questions, so that he can reflect with no regret or uncertainty on the marvelous career he has had.Deduce635826-09-2026
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