Players Championship 22 took place on Wednesday with Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen leading the field. Beau Greaves was also seeded for the first time in her six month PDC career after Luke Humphries withdrew. But it was a familiar name who won it in Rob Cross.
Cross has had a tumultuous time of it with personal issues off the oche and his ranking dropping in recent months to the point where he could go from Premier League to missing the World Matchplay in just over a year.
But he often finds a way to remain in the conversation and he did just that today as he saw off Kuivenhoven 8-5 to claim his first
ProTour title since February 2025.
Cross led early on double eighteen. Cross sat on 78 but Kuivenhoven took out double 10 for 1-1. Double 16 for a 100 checkout for Rob Cross who sealed a 2-1 lead.
A 91 checkout saw Kuivenhoven hold again. Kuivenhoven wasn't on a finish so Cross had time and hit double 20 on 60 for 3-2. Kuivenhoven missed 72 but Cross returned for double 10 to break and he was making a move at 4-2.
Kuivenhoven missed three darts to break back and Cross took aim at 76. But he missed it and Kuivenhoven hit double 10 to break again for 4-3. Cross missed 50 and Kuivenhoven jumped all over it making it 4-4. Cross was averaging 10 more points than Kuivenhoven but not taking chances.
Cross didn't get a shot at 130 but Kuivenhoven couldn't pin 170 and he returned for 5-4 to hold. A 149 to leave double 16 for Cross who pinned it first time for 7-4.
Cross missed 164 for the match only just. But Kuivenhoven was not on a finish. Cross though slipped into double 16 over double eight but Kuivenhoven missed 97 on double 12. Voltage returned but fluffed three further darts. Kuivenhoven hit double three to prolong it at 7-5.
But finally Cross got over the line to seal the win 8-5. Superb from Voltage to cap off a brilliant day for the former World Champion back in the winners circle.
How did the big names fare?
Gerwyn Price took to Instagram to share a positive mindset when it came to his results of the day and wanting to improve from here. But he lost second round. He was defeated by Callan Rydz who averaged 102 in a 6-5 win. Raymond van Barneveld had lost out to Price 6-3 in the opening round.
Price was pleased with being back in business.
Gian van Veen lost 6-3 to eventual finalist Maik Kuivenhoven in a 95 average from the Dutchman. But it was a positive day all around for 'GVV The Giant' who saw off Adam Leek, Martin Schindler, Scott Williams and Aden Kirk in his Quarter-Final run.
Jonny Clayton reached the Last 16 before being defeated by Tom Bissell. He had seen off Viktor Tingstrom, Darius Labanauskas and an abject Dimitri van den Bergh. Beau Greaves in her first event as a seed only six months into her Tour Card lost in the first round to Ritchie Edhouse. She reached the semi-finals yesterday.