The draw for this weekend's New Zealand Darts Masters has been confirmed! 🇳🇿 Some thrilling first round ties ahead in Hamilton! 🍿 👉 bit.ly/24NZDraw
"I feel refreshed and better prepared": Rob Cross looks ahead to New Zealand Darts Masters title defence
PDCThursday, 15 August 2024 at 17:15
The New Zealand Darts Masters 2024 begins on Friday. Defending champion Rob Cross will then take on Haupai Puha, considered the best dart player from New Zealand, in the first round.
The second tournament of the diptych in 'Down Under' will take place on Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17 in the New Zealand city of Hamilton. Cross won the title there last year by defeating Nathan Aspinall 8-7. Earlier this year, the former world champion won for the fourth time in his career by taking the title at the US Darts Masters in New York.
Last week at the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong, Cross was also considered the defending champion. The 33-year-old Englishman then lost 6-4 to Peter Wright in the quarterfinals.
“My performances weren’t really there in Wollongong,” conceded Cross to the PDC. “It will be another tough game against Haupai, but I feel really good, I feel refreshed and I think I’ll be a lot better prepared.”
Just like last week in Wollongong, Cross will play Puha in the first round. Back then, "Voltage" grabbed a comfortable 4-0 lead, but ultimately struggled to pull out the win 6-5.
“I’ve just got to put that down to a blip, and now I need to make sure I put on a bigger and better performance this week."
Cross is one of the stars making his appearance at the World Series tournament in Hamilton. In addition, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Dimitri van den Bergh, Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock, among others, have also made the trip to New Zealand.
The New Zealand Darts Masters counts as the last regular World Series tournament of the season. The dessert of the World Series circuit will take place from September 13 to 15 at the AFAS Live in Amsterdam with the World Series Finals.
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