Rob Cross reaches last 16 of World Darts Championship after thrilling win over Michael Smith
Rob Cross through as big TV screens go down at Alexandra Palace; Keegan Brown and Steve West also progress
Saturday 23 December 2017 18:21, UK
Rob Cross lived up to his billing as one of the World Darts Championship favourites in a rapid-fire, top-quality tungsten tussle against Michael Smith on Saturday afternoon.
In a match which included 29 maximums, debutant Cross averaged 102, hitting 16 maximums, on his way to a thrilling 4-3 win.
Smith blitzed his opponent to win the opening set with ease, but Cross showed his class by levelling up before the big screen in the auditorium went down causing a 20-minute delay in proceedings.
Cross, the 20th seed and European Championship finalist, battled back from 2-0 down to win the third. But 'Bully Boy' upped the ante to claim a whitewash fourth set.
St Helens' thrower Smith, who reached the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace in 2016, reeled off the fifth set in rip-roaring fashion, winning it in just 36 darts with an average of 125.
Two match darts cost Smith, 27, the chance of claiming the scalp of Cross, and 'Voltage' seized his opportunity to send it into a deciding set, where he kept his composure to secure victory on his fourth match dart.
Keegan Brown knocked out Austria's Zoran Lerchbacher to reach the last 16 for the first time and set up a potential clash against 16-time winner Phil Taylor.
The former world youth champion has blossomed at Alexandra Palace this week. 'The Needle' knocked out James Wade in the opening round and the 25-year-old reached the next round, despite an inconsistent 4-2 success over Lerchbacher.
Brown nailed an outstanding 108 in the deciding leg of the sixth set for victory and will play Taylor next should 'The Power' defeat Justin Pipe later on Saturday night.
Steve West defeated Jermaine Wattimena 4-1 in the final match of the afternoon session to book his place in the next round and a meeting with former two-time world champion Gary Anderson.
Wattimena made a blistering start, but was punished by West for missing six darts to claim the opening set.
The 42-year-old went on to win nine out of the next 10 legs, including a 160 and a show-stopping 134, to move 3-0 up.
The Dutchman stopped the rot by reducing the deficit, but West stepped up his game in the fifth set to complete a comfortable win.
The 2018 World Championship from Alexandra Palace continues on Saturday night with Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld in action. Coverage gets underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts and ending with the final on New Year's Day.
Live World Darts Championship
Keep up to date with the news as the PDC celebrates 25 years on Sky Sports. So get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts - don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
