The Chinese qualifier only got one chance to win a leg against the reigning world champion. However, Cross saw his Asian opponent missing six darts on the double in leg six, before he claimed the victory as he hit double 7.
Peter Wright passed the first test at the Shanghai Darts Masters, where he played against Seigo Asada. The Japanese was tipped as one of the few Asian representatives to bring the PDC representatives in trouble.
Asada kept pace with the Scotsman in the first four legs. However he paid the price for missing two doubles in the fifth leg. Wright took out double 10 and rushed into a 5-2 lead. The Japanese picked up one more leg, before 'Snakebite' decided the match in stunning fashion with a 127 checkout on the bullseye.
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Shanghai Darts Masters 2018
Friday July 13 - First round
Gerwyn Price (102.49) 6-2 (81.62) Yuanjun Liu
James Wade (103.66) 6-0 (67.82) Hailong Chen Rob Cross (98.02) 6-0 (82.90) Chengan Liu
Peter Wright (97.19) 6-3 (88.89) Seigo Asada
Michael Smith v Xiao Chen Zong
Daryl Gurney v Lourence Ilagan
Michael van Gerwen v Li Hao Wen
Gary Anderson v Royden Lam
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