Two of the form horses kicked off their
Grand Slam of Darts campaigns on Saturday afternoon and for
Rob Cross and
Jonny Clayton, it was victories over Boris Krcmar and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez respectively.
Cross in particular set out his stall with a whitewash win over Krcmar with 'Voltage' continuing to look super assured with a 96.3 average to see off the Croatian.
He sealed an early break and he continued his brilliance for a 12-darter on double 12 to make it 2-0.
Krcmar left double 20 after 12 to gain a foothold but he chased doubles and Cross returned aiming for a 3-0 lead but he missed bull for an 88.
The Croatian was frustrated as a good guide on double five couldn't be sealed and Cross hit double eight last dart in hand to go a double break up. It was a 4-0 lead soon after as Cross went one away.
Krcmar missed more darts to get on the board and Cross hit double eight to claim a whitewash win.
While for Clayton, a break was vital as he edged through against the in-form Austrian prospect, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 5-3.
This with a 101.5 average and three 180's as the man of the moment aims to add the Grand Slam to his resume this week.
Clayton began a lot better than Rodriguez and tidied up on double three after drifting into double nine on a 138.
A 180 and a 61 checkout saw him go 2-0 up. Rodriguez sealed a hold on an 86 checkout as he looked to settle down.
He was there looking to pounce on 79 as Clayton went searching round the board but missed double 20 and he went 3-1 up.
A 180 from Rodriguez and a 56 checkout saw him go 3-2 behind as he kept pace with the multiple major winner. A break wasn't forthcoming though with a 108 checkout seeing Clayton go one away.
A second 180 from Clayton was pinned as he sensed the finishing line but Rodriguez hit two 140's to be first to a finish. He couldn't take 129 and Clayton was down to an 81 finish which he missed the bull for.
Rodriguez had left double 20 and he prolonged the tie to make it 4-3 and send Clayton in to hold to win.
Another 180 and 58 checkout did in fact seal it for The Ferret 5-3.