European dream ends early for darts star Cross

Rob Cross' European title defence ended early / Picture: Getty

The world darts number five from St Leonards, who defeated Gerwyn Price to claim glory in 2019, lost 6-3 to Dutch thrower Martijn Kleermaker in round one last Thursday night.

Cross was a 6-1 winner when the pair met in the European Darts Grand Prix less than a fortnight before this tussle.

And he got off to a strong start this time, producing a 180 and then a 130 checkout to clinch the opening leg in the German city of Oberhausen.

But 80th-ranked Kleermaker, who was making his European Championship debut in his maiden year on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) circuit, proceeded to reel off five consecutive legs, aided by finishes of 97, 107 and 100.

Although 30-year-old Cross - whose average of 95.18 was more than four points higher than his opponent’s - replied with back-to-back legs, Kleermaker wrapped up his victory in the ninth leg.

It was the third time that Cross has exited a televised tournament at the first stage in just over three months, although he did reach the final of the bwin World Series of Darts Finals during September.

The former World Championship and World Matchplay winner will be back in action this weekend, representing England at the BetVictor World Cup of Darts in Salzburg, Austria.

England - consisting of Cross and world number four Michael Smith - are the top seeds for the 32-nation tournament, which will run from today until Sunday.