By Alex Moss
21 MAY 2017 • 6:32PM
Rob Cross continued his impressive debut season on the main PDC tour as he beat Ian White 6-5 in the final of Players Championship 12 in Milton Keynes today.
The Sussex-based thrower, who finished top of the PDC Challenge Tour Order of Merit last year to earn a two-year tour card onto the senior tour, won his second Pro Tour title after edging past White in a deciding leg.
White, the world number 13, was bidding for his eighth PDC title, and first of the season, but missed five match darts across the final’s last two legs.
Cross, who won his maiden Pro Tour title back in March with victory in Players Championship 3, had enjoyed a fine run to the semi-finals of Players Championship 11 yesterday, with the day’s eventual winner Peter Wright averaging in excess of 120 to knock him out 6-3.
But Cross was not to be denied today, as wins against Max Hopp (6-4), Tony Newell (6-1), James Wade (6-2), Mensur Suljovic (6-4), Darren Webster (6-1) and Kim Huybrechts (6-1) saw him reach his second-ever Pro Tour final.
White’s route to the decider in Milton Keynes had seen him get the better of Stephen Burton (6-5), Ross Twell (6-1), Ronny Huybrechts (6-1), Richard North (6-5), yesterday’s winner Wright (6-3) and James Wilson (6-3).
It was White who looked on course to win the title as he edged in front 5-4 in the best of 11 legs decider, but a missed match dart at the bullseye in the next leg handed Cross the chance to force an 11th leg.
Cross landed double 18 with his final dart to force the decider, which saw his opponent take control with scores of 83, 140, 100 and 100 setting him up on 78 after 12 darts.
However, after missing tops to finish off 78 in his next visit and then spurning three more darts at doubles, White was punished as Cross hit double 18 to win the title and scoop the £10,000 first prize.
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