Rob Cross claims first ranking title of 2023 at Players Championship 11
Rob Cross secured his first ranking title of the season at Players Championship 11 with a dominant 8-3 win over Mike De Decker in the final in Leicester.
Cross produced a series of superb displays to clinch the £12,000 top prize at the Morningside Arena for his first ranking title since October 2022.
The world number five had made a subdued start to the campaign but reaffirmed his credentials in some style, dispatching De Decker with a 101 average to triumph in Saturday’s showpiece.
The opening four legs of the final were shared despite a huge disparity in the averages, as De Decker conjured up a spectacular 141 checkout to restore parity at two apiece.
Cross continued to outscore the young Belgian and that was soon reflected in the score-line, with the former World Champion seizing control with a three-leg burst of 14, 13 and 14 darts.
De Decker replied with a 12-darter to reduce the deficit to 3-5, only for Cross to storm to victory in sensational style, converting 92, 89 and 146 checkouts in consecutive legs to clinch his ninth Players Championship crown.
“I just love winning,” reflected Cross, who moves further clear of Luke Humphries in the race to represent England alongside Michael Smith at next month’s World Cup of Darts.
“In these last couple of weeks I’ve really wanted it again, and I think that’s been a massive turning point.
“Last week I really wanted it but it didn’t quite work out. I’m so glad that I got the win today.
“You’ve got the best of the best coming through now and it’s hard. Even these players that haven’t won titles, they are still so dangerous and you have to do your job.
“I have lost in so many finals in certain disciplines and nobody remembers the runner-up. I was desperate to win, and it’s a good kickstart now. I want to keep moving forward.”
Cross kicked off his route to glory by averaging 105.6 to overcome a spirited Owen Roelofs 6-4, and he continued his progress with wins over Florian Hempel and Scott Waites – accounting for the latter in a last-leg shoot-out.
The 32-year-old stormed through to the Semi-Finals with comprehensive 6-0 and 6-1 wins over Lee Evans and Joe Murnan respectively, setting up a showdown against surprise package Radek Szaganski.
Cross looked set to breeze through after racing into a 3-0 lead, although he was forced to fend off a superb fightback from the Pole, eventually winning through in a dramatic decider.
Despite succumbing in his maiden PDC ranking final, De Decker claimed a host of major scalps in Leicester to pocket the £8,000 runner-up and boost his hopes of World Matchplay qualification.
The Belgian came through three deciding-leg ties in his opening four matches, edging out second seed Luke Humphries after dispatching Luc Peters with a ton-topping average.
De Decker then averaged 105 and converted three ton-plus checkouts to deny Gerwyn Price in a thrilling Quarter-Final, before recording a battling 7-5 win against Niels Zonneveld in the Semi-Finals.
Zonneveld defeated four fellow Dutchmen to progress in his run to the Last Four, averaging 101 and 99 in wins over Jermaine Wattimena and Kevin Doets respectively.
Szaganski also enjoyed a landmark day at the Morningside Arena, dumping out Masters champion Chris Dobey, Australia’s World Cup winner Simon Whitlock and averaging 107 to dispatch Joe Cullen in the Quarter-Finals.
Cullen crashed out in the Last Eight alongside Premier League table-topper Price, who posted three ton-plus averages before losing out to an inspired De Decker.
Joe Murnan and Jimmy Hendriks also bowed out at the same stage, after progressing to their first ProTour Quarter-Finals of 2023.
Michael van Gerwen returned to action following his injury scare during the Premier League in Aberdeen on Thursday, where he was forced to withdraw prior to his Semi-Final due to an arm injury.
Van Gerwen averaged 101 in his opening round tie against Boris Krcmar, but he was edged out in a deciding-leg by the Croatian, while Jonny Clayton and Gary Anderson also suffered shock First Round exits.
Players Championship 11 Results
Saturday May 20
First Round
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Jamie Clark
Josh Payne 6-3 Nick Fullwell
Daniel Klose 6-5 Callan Rydz
Kevin Burness 6-2 George Killington
Joe Murnan 6-4 Ross Smith
Geert Nentjes 6-3 Ted Evetts
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-5 Pascal Rupprecht
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-3 Vladimir Andersen
Arron Monk 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Lee Evans 6-3 Brian Raman
Jules van Dongen 6-4 Gary Anderson
Luke Woodhouse 6-1 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Rob Cross 6-4 Owen Roelofs
Florian Hempel 6-4 Ritchie Edhouse
Scott Waites 6-2 Kim Huybrechts
Bradley Brooks 6-2 Danny Jansen
Damon Heta 6-3 Richard Veenstra
Jarred Cole 6-5 Connor Scutt
Ryan Joyce 6-5 Madars Razma
Callum Goffin 6-5 Ryan Meikle
Joe Cullen 6-2 Jose Justicia
Cameron Menzies 6-5 Robbie Knops
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Stephen Burton
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-5 Jim Williams
Josh Rock 6-1 Devon Petersen
Chris Landman 6-4 Adam Gawlas
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Alan Soutar
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 John Henderson
Martin Schindler 6-5 Martijn Kleermaker
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Danny van Trijp
Chris Dobey 6-4 Ricky Evans
Radek Szaganski 6-2 James Wilson
Luke Humphries 6-4 Damian Mol
Steve Lennon 6-3 Adam Smith-Neale
Mike De Decker 6-5 Harry Ward
Luc Peters 6-3 Darius Labanauskas
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Lewis Williams
Jurjen van der Velde 6-1 Shaun Wilkinson
Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Jose De Sousa
Jamie Hughes 6-2 Keane Barry
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Martin Lukeman
Keegan Brown 6-3 Nick Kenny
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-2 Steve Beaton
Graham Usher 6-2 Jacques Labre
Boris Krcmar 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Scott Williams 6-4 Cam Crabtree
Daryl Gurney 6-3 Robert Owen
Richie Burnett 6-2 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 Conan Whitehead
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Ian White
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Niels Zonneveld 6-1 Maik Kuivenhoven
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Ronny Huybrechts
William O’Connor 6-2 Darren Webster
Gabriel Clemens 6-2 Tony Martinez
Kevin Doets 6-3 Ross Montgomery
Danny Noppert 6-2 Ron Meulenkamp
Graham Hall 6-1 Dylan Slevin
James Wade 6-2 Mervyn King
Gian van Veen 6-1 Wayne Jones
Karel Sedlacek 6-5 Ryan Searle
Jimmy Hendriks 6-4 Owen Bates
Brendan Dolan 6-1 Matt Campbell
Eddie Lovely 6-5 Nathan Rafferty
Second Round
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Josh Payne
Kevin Burness 6-3 Daniel Klose
Joe Murnan 6-3 Geert Nentjes
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Krzysztof Kciuk
Lee Evans 6-5 Arron Monk
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Jules van Dongen
Rob Cross 6-1 Florian Hempel
Scott Waites 6-5 Bradley Brooks
Damon Heta 6-2 Jarred Cole
Ryan Joyce 6-5 Callum Goffin
Joe Cullen 6-4 Cameron Menzies
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Josh Rock 6-2 Chris Landman
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Ricardo Pietreczko
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Martin Schindler
Radek Szaganski 6-2 Chris Dobey
Luke Humphries 6-0 Steve Lennon
Mike De Decker 6-1 Luc Peters
Jurjen van der Velde 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Jamie Hughes
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Keegan Brown
Graham Usher 6-0 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Scott Williams 6-1 Boris Krcmar
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Richie Burnett
Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Niels Zonneveld 6-1 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
William O’Connor 6-3 Andrew Gilding
Kevin Doets 6-5 Gabriel Clemens
Graham Hall 6-3 Danny Noppert
James Wade 6-4 Gian van Veen
Jimmy Hendriks 6-3 Karel Sedlacek
Brendan Dolan 6-5 Eddie Lovely
Losers: £750
Last 32
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Kevin Burness
Joe Murnan 6-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Lee Evans 6-4 Luke Woodhouse
Rob Cross 6-5 Scott Waites
Ryan Joyce 6-1 Damon Heta
Joe Cullen 6-5 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Josh Rock
Radek Szaganski 6-4 Vincent van der Voort
Mike De Decker 6-5 Luke Humphries
Jurjen van der Velde 6-2 Mensur Suljovic
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Graham Usher
Scott Williams 6-5 Daryl Gurney
Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
Kevin Doets 6-3 William O’Connor
James Wade 6-4 Graham Hall
Jimmy Hendriks 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Losers: £1,250
Last 16
Joe Murnan 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Rob Cross 6-0 Lee Evans
Joe Cullen 6-5 Ryan Joyce
Radek Szaganski 6-2 Simon Whitlock
Mike De Decker 6-5 Jurjen van der Velde
Gerwyn Price 6-1 Scott Williams
Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Kevin Doets
Jimmy Hendriks 6-3 James Wade
Losers: £2,000
Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross 6-1 Joe Murnan
Radek Szaganski 6-1 Joe Cullen
Mike De Decker 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Jimmy Hendriks
Losers: £3,000
Semi-Finals
Rob Cross 7-6 Radek Szaganski
Mike De Decker 7-5 Niels Zonneveld
Losers: £4,000
Final
Rob Cross 8-3 Mike De Decker
Winner: £12,000
Runner-up: £8,000
Latest Darts Free Bet Offers (18+)
Sky Bet New Customer offer: Get £30 in Free Bets when you place any first bet
CLICK HERE TO CLAIM THIS OFFER
*New customers only. First single or E/W bet only. 5p minimum stake. 3x £10 Bet Tokens. Free Bet Stakes not included in returns. Free Bets exclude virtuals and are non-withdrawable. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Bet365 New Customer offer: Bet £10 and Get £30 in Free Bets
CLICK HERE TO CLAIM THIS OFFER
*18+ only. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. GambleAware.org. *or currency equivalent.
Bet UK sign-up offer: Bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets
CLICK HERE TO CLAIM THIS OFFER
T&Cs apply. New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Opt-in required. 18+ GambleAware.org
