World Matchplay disappointment for Cross

Rob Cross fell at the first hurdle in his defence of the Betfred World Matchplay title.
Rob Cross at the World Matchplay eventRob Cross at the World Matchplay event
Rob Cross at the World Matchplay event

The world number four from St Leonards was beaten 10-8 by German debutant Gabriel Clemens in round one on Sunday night.

In doing so he became the first reigning World Matchplay champion to be knocked out in the first round since Colin Lloyd in 2006.

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Cross recorded a higher average than his opponent with 94.40, but his 35 per cent success rate on the doubles was far lower than Clemens' 56 per cent.

Early missed doubles from Cross, coupled with a 127 checkout from Clemens, meant the 2018 world champion trailed 2-0 and 3-1, but legs of 14 and 12 darts brought Cross level at 3-3.

Clemens pulled off a 170 outshot - the highest possible finish - to restore his two-leg lead at 5-3 only for Cross to reel off the next three legs, helped by finishes of 94 - for an 11-darter - and 113, to lead for the first time at 6-5.

But Clemens, ranked 40th, replied with three successive legs of his own to go 8-6 up, taking out a crucial 72 on the bull in the process.

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Cross, who missed the bullseye for a 167 checkout in leg 13, produced a 13-darter to make it 8-7 before Clemens held for 9-7.

Under huge pressure, the 29-year-old Cross - wearing a new playing shirt - landed a 110 combination with Clemens waiting on 52 to stay alive at 9-8.

Cross began the next leg with four consecutive treble 20s, but missed three darts at double 18 to level at 9-9 and Clemens pinned double eight to seal the biggest win of his career.

It was all so different from 12 months ago when Cross lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy in front of a vocal and colourful crowd at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

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Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, this year's event is being played behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

Televised live on Sky Sports, the World Matchplay is widely regarded as the sport's second most prestigious tournament.

Another big TV competition which Cross is part of, the Unibet Premier League, had a revised schedule confirmed last week.

In light of the current Covid-19 restrictions, the planned double-header at Rotterdam Ahoy will not take place, along with the scheduled nights in Birmingham, Belfast, Leeds and Berlin.

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Six replacement nights, including Judgement Night which will see one player eliminated from the competition, will take place behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena from August 25-30.

The Premier League is then scheduled to continue with the remaining four league nights in Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, before the top four players contest the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on October 22.

Cross was eighth in the nine-man league table when the tournament was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak after night six in Liverpool during March.