Rob Cross has claimed his first title of 2023 after seeing off Mike de Decker in a superb final win 8-3 at
Players Championship 11.
It was a 101.6 average, 8/13 on the doubles and a high checkout of 146 to win from Cross in a dominant success over the rising Belgian.
De Decker hit 41 for an early break. But Cross responded well breaking straight back for 1-1. Cross led 3-2 after the close early exchanges missing 117 for a break but De Decker couldn’t hit 74 allowing ‘Voltage’ back for 4-2.
He made it 5-2 before consolidating at 6-3 to go two away. An 89 and 146 checkout saw Cross seal a masterful conclusion as he eased to victory.
Players Championship 11 Results
Last 16
Joe Murnan (93.21) 6 | 4 (97.82) Dave Chisnall
Rob Cross (99.10) 6 | 0 (81.03) Lee Evans
Joe Cullen (97.91) 6 | 5 (88.89) Ryan Joyce
Radek Szaganski (92.31) 6 | 2 (89.34) Simon Whitlock
Mike De Decker (88.25) 6 | 5 (88.71) Jurjen van der Velde
Gerwyn Price (100.98) 6 | 1 (99.90) Scott Williams
Niels Zonneveld (99.00) 6 | 3 (103.51) Kevin Doets
James Wade (84.92) 3 | 6 (88.13) Jimmy Hendriks
Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross (102.41) 6 | 1 (89.24) Joe Murnan
Radek Szaganski (107.80) 6 | 1 (103.55) Joe Cullen
Mike De Decker (105.27) 6 | 5 (96.42) Gerwyn Price
Niels Zonneveld (90.79) 6 | 3 (79.12) Jimmy Hendriks
Semi-Finals
Rob Cross (94.30) 7 | 6 (99.52) Radek Szaganski
Mike De Decker (95.26) 7 | 5 (95.77) Niels Zonneveld
Final
Rob Cross (101.59) 8 | 3 (86.94) Mike De Decker