COMEBACK COMPLETE BY CROSS! ✅ What a performance that is from Rob Cross to dig deep and beat Luke Humphries 6-5. He lead 2-0 and then trailed 4-2 but found extreme resolve to reach the Semi-Finals. 📺 bit.ly/PLD24Live #PLDarts
Nathan Aspinall gets first Premier League win over Michael Smith; Rob Cross defies Luke Humphries to reach semi-final
PDCThursday, 22 February 2024 at 21:22
Nathan Aspinall got his Premier League campaign underway as he defeated Michael Smith in a last-leg decider. The Stockport thrower produced a battling performance to beat his good friend, averaging six points fewer but being more clinical when it mattered with a checkout rate of 43%.
The key moment of the match came in the sixth leg when Smith missed a load of darts at the outer ring, and Aspinall was there to eventually mop up and take control of the tie. The 32-year-old always managed to keep himself in front from that point on, despite showing nerves in the next leg with a hold of throw on double one. Smith smashed in a 14-darter to force a decider and had a dart at double for what would have been a 100 checkout in the decider, but it was Aspinall who came out on top to finally get his first points on the board at the fourth attempt.
Cross holds off brilliance from Humphries
In the second match of the night, Rob Cross defied a ton-plus average from World Champion Luke Humphries to progress through to the semi finals.
The 2018 World Champion raced out of the blocks into a 2-0 lead, before Humphries reeled off five of the next eight legs to lead 5-3. With the World No. 1 looking good on the doubles, it was tough to see a way back for Cross, but the 33-year-old found a crucial break of throw to force a last-leg decider - where he produced a composed 15-dart hold to guarantee himself two points for the night so far.
In the remaining quarter finals, Peter Wright takes on Luke Littler, while Michael van Gerwen faces Gerwyn Price in a repeat of last year's final.
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- When Littler has at least five ranking Majors he’s in the discussion, until then, forget it.Mysstree14-11-2024
- This is the difference between other players and Phil Taylor. Phil would be completely motivated even before his walk on and didn't need anything else to do so.richieburnettrocks14-11-2024
- Still impressive though. Also literally everyone cares about averages that's what makes darts fascinating.medinabello14-11-2024
- BS he won a Euro Tour during this down period something that not many players can say. Dobey, Noppy, DvD, Ross Smith to name just a few.medinabello14-11-2024
- Maybe the supposed top players are burnt out from the endless travelling and tournaments, I just don't think they have the dedication or outright desire to win. I think they are more interested in the money and being popular, just keeping their rankings steady. The only thing that mattered to Phil Taylor was winning, not winning a few games to top up the money pot and seeking the fans attention. Maybe there is too many tournaments now and the enthusiasm is gone. This year especially has seen so many different winners and unexpected draws and line ups.richieburnettrocks14-11-2024