World Darts Championship next up after another early exit for Cross

The world number five from St Leonards was edged out 6-5 by Joe Cullen in round two of the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals on Saturday afternoon.

Exactly a week previously, Cross lost 10-9 to Michael Smith in round two of the BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts.

This time, Cross led 3-0, 4-2 and 5-4 only for 16th-ranked Cullen to clinch the final two legs at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

It was a scrappy contest for the first eight legs, with both players performing well below their usual level, before coming alive in the last three.

Cross moved within one of victory when he clinched the ninth leg by finishing 48 in two darts after Cullen had missed two attempts at a double.

Cullen then produced a vital 88 checkout on the bullseye, with Cross waiting on double eight, to make it 5-5.

Cross threw first in the final leg, but missed a dart at double top for victory and Cullen finished 83 in two darts to win a match where he never led until the very end.

The 30-year-old Cross had produced a better display to see off Jason Lowe 6-3 in round one on Friday afternoon.

Cross took control by winning four of the first five legs and went on to seal victory with a 104 outshot, missing just one dart at a double in the entire match.

The 2019 World Matchplay and European Championship winner will now turn his focus to the William Hill World Darts Championship.

The sport's blue riband event - which Cross won three years ago after defeating Phil Taylor in the final - will take place at Alexandra Palace, London, from December 15 to January 3.

And the draw will be made on Thursday December 3 live on Sky Sports News.