Rob Cross sees off Scott Williams to reach World Championship third round
Former champion Rob Cross is through to the third round of the PDC World Championship after seeing off debutant Scott Williams at Alexandra Palace.
A fine contest that went to a last-leg decider in each set saw Cross prevail 3-1 with an average of 99 and having recorded seven 180s.
The 32-year-old Englishman, winner of this competition five years ago and a runner-up at last month’s Players Championship Finals, said in quotes on pdc.tv: “This place will always be special to me. This is the holy grail.
CROSS WINS A CLASSIC!
What a game that was as he beats Scott Williams 3-1, with every set going the distance.
99.32 average and 58% on the doubles for Cross! #WCDarts | R2
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/dDNYTrmqkt— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 23, 2022
“I think I dealt with the big moments a little bit more, but I probably put that down to experience. I feel good. I feel like I’m getting better and I’m enjoying it again.”
Cross will play Mervyn King in round three.
Friday’s action – which had England and Leicester midfielder James Maddison in attendance – also included Wales’ Jonny Clayton advancing with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dutchman Danny van Trijp.
Clayton will next face Brendan Dolan, who defeated Jimmy Hendriks 3-1.
Van Trijp’s compatriot Danny Noppert was a 3-1 victor over David Cameron, and there were also 3-1 wins for Joe Cullen against Ricky Evans and Ross Smith against Darius Labanauskas.
Chris Dobey won 3-0 against Martijn Kleermaker to set up a clash with two-time champion Gary Anderson, and Martin Schindler will face last year’s runner-up Michael Smith after beating Martin Lukeman 3-1.
