104 average Rob Cross prevails in Grand Slam of Darts classic against Nathan Aspinall to complete quarter-final lineup

Rounding out the quarter-final lineup at the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts, Rob Cross has defeated Nathan Aspinall in a Grand Slam of Darts classic to set up a blockbuster last eight tie with Michael van Gerwen's conqueror, Damon Heta.

After Nathan Aspinall was given the now-traditional serenading by the crowd of Mr Brightside, it was Rob Cross who got down to business the quicker of the two, holding throw in the opening leg. Averaging just over 107, 'Voltage' romped into a 4-1 lead at the first break, finishing the session with a brilliant 116 checkout on double 18.

Despite the disappointing scoreline at the interval, it wasn't as if Aspinall was playing badly and in the first leg after the break, he held throw to pull one back as his own average nudged over the 102 mark. Cross then returned hold in the following leg but after 'Voltage' missed a dart at double 18 for 144 and a break, Aspinall clung on to his throw in leg 8, checking out 81 on the bullseye. After holding in leg 9, closing out the session, Cross again went inside when looking at double 18 to break allowing Aspinall to return, take the leg and stay in contact, trailing 6-4 at the break.

Upping his average to 109 in that second session, Cross was still the one in control of the tie and finishing the first leg after the interval with a 75 on double 6, the former World Champion moved three legs in front and notably just three legs from the match. Despite having trouble with something in his eye, Aspinall showed all the class of a World Matchplay champion to pin a nerveless 68 to save his throw, then kick off the following leg with a maximum. When 'the Asp' was unable to threaten a 130 to break though, Cross moved two legs away from a quarter-final Damon Heta courtesy of double 8.

This was a high-quality darts contest and Aspinall continued to fight with an 81 checkout in leg 14, refusing to buckle under the immense pressure put on him by Cross. It was on the 'Voltage' throw that Aspinall needed to put the pressure on though and Cross was making that incredibly difficult. Nailing an ice-cold double 16, Cross moved to one leg away.

Threatening a nine-darter in leg 16, Aspinall fired six perfect darts before eventually taking the leg in ten darts to get back to 9-7 behind. After Aspinall missed two darts at double 16 for a break though, Cross was given a shot for the match but when 'Voltage' couldn't find the bullseye, Aspinall returned to get another leg back, 9-8. Having worked so hard to get the break though, Aspinall then couldn't muster much on his own throw at a key period. Cross, requiring 56 for the match made no mistake this time to get home 10-8 in a Grand Slam of Darts classic.