Cross bows out of darts' PDC home tour after fine effort to reach final

The world number four from St Leonards saw his strong run in the Low6 Home Tour Play-Offs end in the semi-finals last Thursday night.

With the top two players from semi-final two advancing to the championship group, Cross missed out after winning one and losing two of his three matches on a splendid night of darts.

The 29-year-old began with a 6-4 loss to world number 16 Joe Cullen, who fired in seven 180s and averaged just under 100.

Cross hit back by winning 6-5 in a superb encounter against seventh-ranked Nathan Aspinall, averaging 107.53 to his opponent's 104.82.

That left all four players level on two points from two matches, meaning whoever won their remaining contest would progress to the championship group.

Aspinall booked his place courtesy of a 6-5 success against Cullen, but Cross was unable to join him after losing 6-1 to world number 15 Jonny Clayton.

Incidentally, Aspinall went on to win the championship group the following night with three victories out of three. Clayton finished third.

Amid the global coronavirus sporting shutdown, the innovative Home Tour event began with 101 PDC Tour Card holders playing from their homes in 32 first round groups, with the action broadcast to fans around the world via live video calls.

Cross - the 2018 world champion, and 2019 World Matchplay and European Championship winner - topped group 21 before going on to win group five of the Play-Offs.

Voltage, as Cross is nicknamed, will defend his World Matchplay title next month after the PDC confirmed the tournament will go ahead on its original dates of July 18-26.

A decision will be made by July 4 if the World Matchplay - the first fully televised PDC event to be played following the suspension of competitions due to the Covid-19 pandemic - can be held with a crowd present.