CROSS STORMS TO PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 22 GLORY

ROB CROSS admits he has endured his fair share of “trials and tribulations” after ending a 16-month wait for a PDC ranking title.

Voltage claimed his 11th ProTour crown with an 8-5 victory over Maik Kuivenhoven in the Players Championship 22 final.

World No22 Cross was at his clinical best in Wigan, averaging 95.96 to see off Alexander Merkx 6-4 in the last eight before producing eye-catching 170, 127 and 130 finishes in a commanding 7-3 semi-final triumph over Stephen Bunting.

Cross recently went through a divorce from wife Georgia but revealed the pair continue to get on well and co-parent their children.

He said: “I have had my trials and tribulations. I have a lot going on at the minute. Even through that, I have played some decent stuff.

“Three months ago, the World Matchplay – I am probably out of it.

“I managed to give myself a kick up the backside. I still have great support behind me. Georgia and the kids – we all still get on.

“I still get to have my family time, which I am grateful for. She is a great woman and a top mother.

“For me, going forward, if I can carry on playing the way I am, I have made a few semi-finals in the last few weeks and months, I still think I am dangerous to the top boys in the world.

“I’m fully focused at the minute. I know I have to do a job. I know the World Matchplay is around the corner and, if I don’t do that, it is going to be the first time I miss it.

“It’s all about results and other stuff, but at the same time, the fundamentals – if the cogs don’t work in the background, I suppose I don’t work full stop.

“I am grateful for what I have in life, and to win this today is massive for me.”

Elsewhere, Gerwyn Price suffered a surprise second-round exit, edged out 6-5 by Callan Rydz, who produced a superb 102.02 average.

Dimitri Van den Bergh’s miserable run of form continued as the Belgian was thrashed 6-0 by Jonny Clayton in the opening round, averaging just 74.25.

Beau Greaves also endured an early exit, with the women’s world No. 1 beaten 6-1 by former European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse in round one.

Image by Taylor Lanning.