PDC World Championship: Cross beats Tricole in straight sets

Catch up on Thursday afternoon's action from Ally Pally:

Mickey Mansell (64) 3-0 Xiao Chen Zong (-)

Zong started his World Cup with a 180 in Mansell's leg. It did not stop the Northern Irishman from winning the leg to move to 1-0.

Zong managed to keep his own leg by impressively throwing out 128 to level the score. Zong missed the perfect opportunity to break and Mansell escaped in his own third leg.

His second 180 helped Zong keep his own leg in 13 darts and a decisive fifth leg followed. The first break was delayed and Mansell took the first set.

The second set started a bit slowly from Zong and this led to the first break. Mansell threw out 65 to take the lead. Mansell continued to throw very solidly and came out in his own leg in 14 darts.

After misses by Zong, Mansell also won the third leg and with it the set.

Zong managed to break for the first time in the first leg of the third set after getting a dart for tops. The Chinese missed seven arrows to cash in on his break and saw Mansell break back.

Mansell hit double 20 for the first time in the match and got to match point. Mansell threw his first 180 of the match and needed only one match dart to decide the match.

Mansell will play in the second round against his compatriot, Brendan Dolan

Luke Woodhouse (33) 2-3 Berry Van Peer (107)

Both men were on a finish fairly quickly in the first leg but were uncomfortable throwing out.

In the end, Van Peer used the advantage of starting the leg and took the lead. Woodhouse continued to miss on the doubles and the Dutchman managed to post a break by throwing out 76. Woodhouse fought his way back into the set by breaking back from 74.

The Englishman levelled the score in his own fourth leg and the deciding leg could be started by Van Peer. With three darts in hand for double 20, Van Peer hit the first straight away, winning the first set.

Woodhouse started the second set well by finishing 101. Van Peer also continued to finish well, throwing out 82 to level the score. After Woodhouse took the lead in his own leg, Van Peer kept his own leg in 13 arrows.

Again a fifth leg was required. Woodhouse was allowed to start it and threw his fourth 180 of the match to win the leg easily and move to 1-1 in sets.

Great finish

Van Peer threw 78 to take the lead in his own first leg. A leg later, Woodhouse threw the bullseye for a 94 finish and a tie. Leg number three produced an 88-finish from Van Peer and through handfuls of misses from Woodhouse, 60 also went out for Van Peer, who won the third set.

A clever 114-finish from the Englishman provided the break and a 2-0 lead, making a fifth set close. Van Peer thought otherwise and managed to break back via a 121 finish. Throwing out 92, the Dutchman levelled the score. Van Peer had a chance to decide the match but missed two match darts. Woodhouse stayed cool and escaped.

Van Peer made it 2-0 after a break in the second leg of the fifth set and was allowed to start the third leg to throw for the match. Woodhouse failed to find the triples again and Van Peer missed his third match but was allowed to come back with three darts for tops. Match dart number six was hit and Van Peer won the match.

Van Peer will play Josh Rock in the third round.

Madars Razma (32) 3-1 Mike De Decker (37)

Via double 18, and double 16, it was Razma who managed to break the Belgian immediately in the first leg. He cashed in on his break and stayed 100 per cent on his doubles. The double 18, double 18 combinations also went well for Razma, who won the first set in straight legs (three times 15-darter).

In the second set, it was De Decker who threw the first 180 of the match and immediately broke in the first leg.

De Decker was the first to miss an arrow on the double, but made it 2-0 a turn later. Razma found a rhythm in his own leg and the fourth leg could be started by De Decker.

The Latvian started to miss dimes pardonably and De Decker took advantage of that by taking the set.

Razma hurts De Decker

In the first leg of the third set, De Decker ran into misses on the double. Razma could not enjoy his lead for long, however, as De Decker broke back and was the first to keep his own leg in the third set. 

Partly due to his first 180 of the match, Razma was also able to keep his own leg and a fifth leg had to bring the decision. Decker failed to win the set and Razma was unrelenting by throwing tops for the first time to win the set.

Razma had a chance from 106 in the second leg of the fourth set and took advantage by breaking and getting to match point. De Decker showed resilience by opening the third leg with 180 and breaking right back. In leg four, De Decker also started with a high score: 177 - Razma's reply was 180.

Razma got two match darts after misses from Decker - missed them - and a fifth leg had to bring a decision. Razma missed a third match dart, but De Decker also failed to come out from 69. The fourth match dart did hit for the Latvian.

Razma will play defending champion Michael Smith in the third round.

Rob Cross (8) 3-0 Thibault Tricole (146)

Tricole - after six missed doubles - came out on double 1. He also failed to hit that one with a handful of arrows and the Frenchman was immediately broken in the first leg.

In the second leg, Tricole missed another six darts on the doubles and again it was Cross who took advantage. In leg three, Tricole missed his 13th(!) arrow on the double and Cross won the set in straight legs.

In the first leg of the second set, Tricole got on the scoreboard after he hit his 14th arrow on a double and managed to break the former world champion.

Tricole cashed in on his break and Cross also managed to keep his own leg after which the Frenchman could start the fourth leg to take the set.

 However, it was Cross who put the break back and could start the fifth leg himself. With Tricole on 32, Cross threw out 114 and took the second set in style.

Final blow

Finishing with 126, Cross looked to deliver the final blow, breaking his opponent in the first leg of the third set. Cross cashed in on his break and reached match point. Tricole was broken again and Cross hit his first matchdart.

Cross will play the winner of the match between Jose de Sousa and Jeffrey de Graaf in the third round.