King eases past Cross to claim first Quarter-Final spot at The Masters

Saturday, 30 January 2021 at 14:50

Mervyn King is the first player through to the Quarter-Finals at The Masters after easing past Rob Cross in an impressive display by a 10-5 scoreline to continue his terrific form as of late.

King averaged 101.6 with four 180's to follow up his brilliant win over Glen Durrant on the opening night and will now face either Nathan Aspinall or Mensur Suljovic next up with a big opportunity for whoever comes through.

Read also

TV Guide ITV 4 for The Masters 2021

King produced a brilliant start to proceedings opening a 2-0 lead up over Cross and pouncing in the process on five missed darts at doubles in the first leg.

This continued with a 180 followed by a 121 checkout on the bull to make it 3-0. It was back-to-back ton plus checkouts as he pinned 104 to extend his lead to 4-0.

Cross got off the mark on double 19 to reduce the deficit to 5-1 but this proved a consolation as King returned with a 130 checkout on the bull to break back at 6-1 up.

The procession continued for 'The King' as he broke once more to go 8-1 up with a 103 average and 8/15 on the doubles.

He nearly went one away missing double six for a 126 checkout and Cross stopped the rot with an 80 checkout to trail 8-2.

King missed double 16 for a 110 checkout and Cross held to reduce the gap to 8-3. The former though pinned the same target next time around to go 9-3 up and on the verge.

Cross claimed a leg back missing the bull for a 161 en route to a 9-4 deficit but was still up against it with 'The King' having the throw in the requisite leg.

King hit a 180 at the right time to leave 40 but missed three darts at the match with Cross ready to pounce on 44 and he did so last dart in hand on double 16 to break throw.

There was a bit of controversy with King thinking that Cross was over the line in going for the final dart. King left 86 while Cross was left on 30 to hold throw but the former pinned it to claim the break back and the win.