Rob Cross and Mensur Suljovic win Dublin Players Championship events

Rob Cross and Mensur Suljovic warmed up for Sunday's World Grand Prix with victory in the two Players Championship events on Friday and Saturday.

Cross took the honours on Friday night to maintain his brilliant year on the Tour, beating Peter Wright 6-2 in the final, while on Saturday it was the turn of Suljovic.

The Austrian, the most recent major winner on the circuit having beaten Gary Anderson to claim the Champions League of Darts, producing a typically battling display to come from behind and see off Stephen Bunting in the final action of the Players Championship double header at the Citywest Hotel.

Michael van Gerwen, warming up for the defence of his World Grand Prix crown, endured a difficult couple of days, losing to an inspired Suljovic on Saturday and Vincent van der Voort on Friday.

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All eyes remain on Ireland on Sunday as the first round of the World Grand Prix gets underway, and you can follow all the action on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm, and Cross and Suljovic underlined their position as threats to the traditional big names.

Cross, already winner of Players Championship 3 and 12 this season had a memorable run that started with a 6-1 victory over five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Wins over Dave Pallett and Justin Pipe followed before a narrow 6-5 victory over James Wade 6-5 in a deciding leg thriller booked his place in the last eight.

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Cross then trounced MVG-conqueror Van der Voort 6-0 to set up a semi-final with Suljovic where a 109 average was good enough to see off the Austrian with a 6-1 victory.

A ten-time winner on Tour this season stood in his way and while Snakebite was out of the gate fastest, it was Cross who sealed a memorable victory.

On Saturday, Suljovic went one stage further than his Friday semi-final, by making the final and going on to beat Bunting in the Bullet's first PDC final for 18 months.

Suljovic kicked off the day with a 6-0 win against Ted Evetts and followed up with a victory over Richie Corner before edging out Justin Pipe 6-5 in the last 16.

A 6-1 victory over Alan Norris set up a quarter-final clash with Van Gerwen and Suljovic was too strong for the world number one, enjoying a 6-3 triumph to reach the semi-finals, where he defeated James Wilson 6-4 before his success over Bunting.

Both men are in action in Dublin on Sky Sports this week where Cross kicks off against Steve Beaton on Sunday evening and sixth Suljovic gets going on Monday against Ian White.

The biggest names in darts will return to Dublin's Citywest Hotel from October 1-7 for the 2017 World Grand Prix and you will be able to watch all the action with us on Sky Sports.

Who will win the World Grand Prix at Dublin's Citywest Hotel this year? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting @SkySportsDarts or by using the comments box below - sign in with Facebook. Follow us on Twitter & use #LoveTheDarts