BOYLE SPORTS GRANDSLAMOF DARTS 2019 ALDERSLEY LEISURE VILLAGE,WOLVERHAMPTON PIC LAWRENCE LUSTIG ROUND 2 PETER WRIGHT V ROB CROSS ROB CROSS IN ACTION
2018 champion Rob Cross defied a sluggish start to begin his title bid with a straight sets victory against French trailblazer Thibault Tricole.
Cross capitalised on a doubling horror-show from Tricole to claim a scrappy opening set without reply, and after converting a clinical 114 checkout to double his lead, Cross completed another clean sweep in set three to seal his progress.
“I’m not very happy with my performance, but a win is a win,” reflected Cross, one of six former champions left in the tournament.
“I was more nervous than I’ve ever been on this stage. I got so enthused with the crowd that I lost my focus, but I’m very grateful to be through.
“I’m looking forward to Christmas now, and hopefully I can be a different animal when I come back.”
Elsewhere, Madars Razma will play World Champion Michael Smith for a place in the last 16, after breaking new ground at Alexandra Palace with a hard-fought 3-1 win against Mike De Decker.
The Latvian produced a trio of 15-darters to strike the first blow, and while De Decker responded to level, Razma won the next two sets in last-leg shoot-outs to reach round three for the first time in his career.
Thursday’s action also saw the first round draw to a close in the capital, as Berry van Peer celebrated victory on debut with a deciding-set success against Luke Woodhouse.
Van Peer – who secured top spot on the 2023 Challenge Tour Order of Merit – defied six 180s from Woodhouse to triumph in a rollercoaster affair, which sets up a second round clash against Northern Ireland’s number one Josh Rock.
Meanwhile, Mickey Mansell will play his former World Cup partner Brendan Dolan in round two, after overcoming China’s number one Xiaochen Zong in straight sets to kick off Day Seven.
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