World championship debutant Rob Cross will face 16-time champion Phil Taylor in Monday’s final after the No20 seed shocked world No1 Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in an epic semi-final.

Cross held his nerve in a sudden-death leg to win the deciding set by six legs to five after Van Gerwen had missed five darts at a match-winning double. He will take on Taylor for the title after the No6 seed overcame qualifier Jamie Lewis 6-1 in his final professional tournament.

When Van Gerwen lifted the trophy at Alexandra Palace back in January, Cross was still an amateur player having recently secured his first PDC tour card. The 27-year-old has climbed the rankings rapidly since but was still a firm outsider against the defending champion.

It was clear from the outset however that Cross would not be overawed by the occasion, trading blows with Van Gerwen as the players shared the first two sets. Cross then checked out from 161 to grab the fifth set from his opponent’s grasp.

Van Gerwen won the sixth set 3-0 but Cross retaliated in the seventh, taking it 3-1 with a 126 checkout. The Dutchman took the next set in three straight legs and after Cross led 2-0 in the eighth, rallied to take a 5-4 lead.

The No1 seed looked set to complete the job and seal the expected heavyweight final against Taylor but his opponent found renewed purpose to take the first two legs. Van Gerwen then missed three darts at double top to level the set, setting up a decider at a raucous Ally Pally.

Both players maintained averages above 100 in a breathless final set, with Cross missing a shot at bull to snatch victory in the sixth leg. The pressure appeared to be telling on the debutant, and Van Gerwen pounced to hit double 12 in the ninth leg and throw for the match.

Incredibly, the double world champion blew five chances to win, and Cross found his composure to check out on double 18 and set up a sudden-death leg. It was the underdog who threw first, and he held his nerve to clinch an astonishing win on double eight.

Cross told Sky Sports: “Words can’t explain it. Don’t get me wrong, I played well but the crowd helped me, they really did. They got on Michael’s back and that’s why I won.

“At points I felt inexperienced, I really did, but I still got through. I will come out [in the final] and want to win.

“[Taylor] is my favourite player actually. He was dominant and now he’s leaving, it’s going to be special for him but at the same time I’ve got to do my own job and do what I need to do to win that game.

“I never expected this, it’s amazing, absolutely amazing. I never expected this rise, I really didn’t. I’m just a working boy, I come from a normal household and don’t get me wrong, I believe in my own ability and that’s only why I got here.”

Taylor one step from 17th title after win over Lewis

Phil Taylor will make his professional darts swansong in the world championship final after he defeated Jamie Lewis 6-1 in the earlier semi-final.



Taylor started strongly and broke Lewis’ throw in the first leg then led 2-0, but the Welsh qualifier hit back and won the next three legs to claim the first set with a double 16 finish.

The second set was as closely matched but Taylor edged past his 26-year-old opponent after he missed a double 13 finish to level at 1-1.

Phil Taylor was full of praise for qualifier Jamie Lewis after beating the Welshman 6-1 in the first semi-final. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

The third set also went to a fifth leg thanks to a 100 checkout from Taylor, with three missed darts from Lewis then allowing the 16-time world champion a shot at double 20 to move 2-1 ahead in sets, which he duly took.

Taylor’s experience proved crucial as the match developed, with Lewis missing opportunities to close out legs as the No6 seed rattled off three sets to lead 5-1.

Lewis put up a fight in the seventh set by claiming the first two legs but Taylor pegged him back before clinching victory to the joy of the packed crowd. He now faces Cross, who was born six months after Taylor won his first BDO title, in an intriguing final.

“I’m over the moon. The first two or three sets I didn’t know where I was. I was struggling, I couldn’t put three darts together,” Taylor said.

“Now I’m retiring, [Jamie Lewis] is the one to watch for, trust me, because he’s a lovely player, he’s got a cracking family behind him and he’s got no airs and graces, just gets on with his job. I can’t say enough about him.” PA