St Leonards star back on top of Premier League
The world number two from St Leonards recorded his seventh win in 10 Premier League matches with an 8-4 success against third-ranked Daryl Gurney at The SSE Arena in Belfast.
And he moved back to the league summit because previous leader Michael van Gerwen - the world number one and world champion - drew 7-7 with Gerwyn Price.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSee also: * St Leonards star nets another Premier League win* St Leonards star reaches European Open final* St Leonards star goes top of Premier LeagueCross recorded a 104.7 average, and hit three 180s and three ton-plus checkouts in a fully deserved win over his Northern Irish opponent.
Cheered on by the home crowd, Gurney broke the Cross throw in the opening leg only for Cross to surge back with a 117 outshot for a 12-dart break before a 13-dart hold put him 2-1 up.
Although Cross missed two darts at a double in leg four, another 13-dart hold in leg five followed by another 12-dart break in leg six gave him a 4-2 lead.
Gurney, who beat Cross on his way to winning the German Darts Championship last weekend, produced a 112 finish in leg seven, but Cross landed back-to-back 177s to break in leg eight and another 177 in leg nine helped him hold in 14 darts for a 6-3 advantage.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAlthough Cross missed a dart at double 18 in leg 10, another 14-dart hold in leg 11 put him 7-4 ahead and he wrapped things up in style with a 124 checkout on the bullseye for a 12-dart break in leg 12.
Darts’ widest-reaching tournament, the Unibet Premier League sees nine of the world’s top players compete across 17 nights of action from February-May.
The top four players at the end of 16 nights will face off in the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 23.
Cross now has 15 points to his name - one more than second-placed van Gerwen - and he will face Peter Wright at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool next Thursday.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdStandings (all played 10 matches): 1 Rob Cross 15pts (+20 leg difference), 2 Michael van Gerwen 14 (+22), 3 Mensur Suljovic 12 (+4), 4 James Wade 11 (+8), 5 Daryl Gurney 11 (-2), 6 Gerwyn Price 10 (-1), 7 Peter Wright 9 (-5), 8 Michael Smith 8 (-6).