Rob Cross prevails in sudden death tie-break as Gian van Veen spurns six match darts in World Matchplay epic

On a night where the PDC will want the darts completed before 8pm, it isn't going that way with the first match lasting nearly an hour alone as Rob Cross survived a scare and a comeback in a true World Matchplay epic.

Cross won in the sudden death leg against Gian van Veen who lost 13-12 and had six match darts in all but was denied everytime as he failed to produce on the Winter Gardens stage. 'Voltage' who is seen as a real dark horse this week provided when it mattered most with an epic tie-break leg for the win and oozed class in the end. The clock ticks down to 8pm and it is very much the hope that all matches don't go the distance tonight after two tie-break thrillers in a row.

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To start the match, Cross took a huge gamble. 'Voltage' declined a shot at bull for 124 and in usual darting folklore, Van Veen hit a 170 checkout on the bull for a 2-1 lead.

But Cross surged as he won three legs in four as he made it 4-4 hitting 32 with Van Veen missing 126 for a 5-3 lead. From 4-2 down, Cross won four legs on the spin with that impetus shifting towards a 6-4 lead. But Van Veen after going 8-4 down rallied again.

He was averaging 112 from the second break onwards and pinned an epic 167 checkout to go 8-5 down. It was a third ton plus checkout on the bullseye as he couldn't miss the middle of the board with a 126 checkout for 8-7. A 98 checkout for a 12-darter firmly thrust it in the palm of Van Veen's hand at 8-8 and he led 9-8 from there.

Van Veen had 121 for the match on the bull but missed and Cross hit double 16 for 9-9 and we were going towards a tie-break with 'Voltage' having throw. But Van Veen left 51 with Cross not on a finish and he was throwing for the match at 10-9.

Van Veen got match darts but missed two darts for the win and Cross took aim but was chasing around the board before pinning double one for 10-10. A 92 checkout saw Cross rally after being on the verge of being broken again. He pinned it at 11-10.

A 174 from Cross left 94 in case Van Veen didn't hit 90. But he needed the bull to stay in it and pinned it again for 11-11.

Van Veen pinned double 10 after initially missing 113 and he broke to go one away. He had another match dart with a second double 19 missed. Cross hit 171 to leave 36 but missed darts again. Van Veen split but missed two more match darts to get to six in all and Cross made it 12-12. Onto sudden death. Two 140's and a 180 left 41 for Cross who produced to send Van Veen packing and end an absolute corker on the Winter Gardens stage.