Rob Cross won his first title of 2026 after beating Maik Kuivenhoven 8-5 in the Players Championship 22 final at Wigan on Wednesday.
Cross, who has not won a ranking title since the inaugural Players Championship in 2025, won seven consecutive matches to claim the £15,000 top prize at Robin Park Leisure Centre.
The former world champion’s win virtually cemented his place in July’s World Match Play after an impressive day with a tournament average of 98.91.
“I always thought I was going to win, and when I do, I usually do,” commented Cross, who has won the ProTour title every year since 2020.
“I’ve been through trials and tribulations. There’s a lot going on right now. I believe I can win every day if I can do it to the best of my ability, but sometimes mentally it can get in the way.
“I watched the World Match Play three months ago and I was eliminated. I was probably £15,000 adrift, but I managed to bounce back.
“I know World Match Play is just around the corner and I love World Match Play. It all depends on the result and to win today is very special for me.
“I still have great support behind me and I think if I can keep playing like I am now I’m still a danger to the best players in the world.”
Cross made a good start to the day with back-to-back 6-1 wins, including an average of 103.43, against Dutch duo Chris Landman and Jimmy van Schie.
The 35-year-old continued his dominance, including a 6-2 win over Connor Scutt and another impressive 6-1 win over David Sharp in the last 16, averaging 104.73.
In the quarter-finals, Cross beat Alexander Merkx 6-4 in the closest match of the day and advanced to the final with a stunning performance against Stephen Bunting.
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The 2019 World Match Play winner went on to advance to 3-1 with three stunning checkouts of 170, 127 and 130 before finishing with his third over-ton average and defying Bunting’s over-104 average to advance to his first ProTour final of 2026.
Five throw holds began the finale against Kuivenhoven and Cross appeared to create breathing space with a break in the throw to take a 4-2 lead.
The Dutchman fought back but Kroos went on the precipice of victory with a superb spell of three straight leg shots, including a 10-darter.
The two-time European champion was denied four match darts in the next game to help Kuivenhoven get back into the game, but recovered to win 8-5 and claim his 11th Players Championship crown.
Meanwhile, Kuivenhoven broke new ground by reaching the final of the Players Championship for the first time in his career, despite coming up short in the final.
2026 Players Championship 22
last 16th
Alexander Merkx 6-5 Cristo Reyes
Rob Cross 6-1 David Sharp
Tommy Morris 6-5 Cam Crabtree
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Gabriel Clemens 6-1 Mickey Mansell
Tom Bissell 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Gian van Veen 6-5 Adam Leake
Maik Kuivenhoven 6-3 Ryan Searle
quarterfinal
Rob Cross 6-4 Alexander Merkx
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Tommy Morris
Tom Bissell 6-5 Gabriel Clemens
Maik Kuivenhoven 6-3 Gian van Veen
semifinal
Rob Cross 7-3 Stephen Bunting
Maik Kuivenhoven 7-6 Tom Wissell
critical
Rob Cross 8-5 Mike Kuijvenhoven
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