CROSS WINS A CLASSIC! What a game that was as he beats Scott Williams 3-1, with every set going the distance. 99.32 average and 58% on the doubles for Cross! #WCDarts | R2 📺 bit.ly/WC23Live
Clinical Cross battles past impressive debutant Williams in thrilling clash to open PDC World Darts Championship campaign
PDCFriday, 23 December 2022 at 17:45
2018 World Champion, Rob Cross has opened his campaign at the Alexandra Palace successfully with victory over impressive debutant Scott Williams 3-1 at the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship.
Set to return after Christmas to face Mervyn King, Cross produced a 99.3 average, seven 180's and 58% on the doubles as he held the clinical edge when it mattered most against his close friend and practice partner.
Williams missed a dart off 52 for the hold and Cross broke on double 12 to begin the tie. A 106 checkout saw him double his lead.
A first maximum was there for Williams to leave 44 and he finally got a first leg on the board on double 16.
He couldn’t get a dart at 121 for 2-2 but Cross missed a dart for the set and Williams made it 2-2 and was throwing for the set.
Williams couldn’t get the second treble for a 154 but Cross couldn’t pin 112 on return and Williams sealed the opening set on double 20.
A 52 checkout saw Cross hold to begin set two. Williams though staved off Cross pressure with a 111 checkout for 1-1. Cross hit double 16 to hold again. A 58 checkout was pinned and it was another set to go all the way. 134 left 47 for Cross for the set who had the throw and he pinned it clinically to make it 1-1.
To begin set three, Williams fluffed his lines missing darts to hold and Cross hit a 72 checkout on double six to break. He hit his third 180 to begin his throw and took aim at 48 but missed darts to hold and Williams returned for double 10 to break back at 1-1.
He had darts to hold again and once again handed Cross a break chance which he took on double 18 for 2-1. Williams hit a 47 checkout after a superb 12-darter to send it all the way and break again.
But Cross took the set with an 82 checkout to go 2-1 up in sets to end the set with all breaks of throw. Cross hit the ninth 180 of the contest but again Williams was waiting if he couldn’t produce a 116 checkout and he got his chance on 80 only to miss a dart and ‘Voltage’ returned to lead in the fourth set.
Again Cross started red hot with four perfect darts but couldn’t find the treble on 121 and Williams pinned 68 on double 16 to level up.
Williams looked to make a move with a fifth 180 and hit double eight to go 2-1 up and was throwing for the set. But Cross pounced laying up 161 for 32 with a break again occurring and the momentum shifted to throwing for the tie. Williams finished with a flourish with an incredible no look 180 with Cross sat on 32 but it was the former World Champion who hit double eight.
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