The Main Event
Rob Cross believes he is playing his most consistent darts since he won the World Championship in 2018.
The world number eight opens his campaign against Thibault Tricole tomorrow afternoon claiming to have emerged from a two-year low and ready to challenge on the biggest stage of all.
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Cross won the event five years ago, capping a remarkable first year on tour by thrashing his hero Phil Taylor in the final.
He would love a repeat across the next couple of weeks, telling the PA News agency: “It is the pinnacle of the game, when you win it you realise that.
“For me to win it again, I couldn’t put it into words. It’s that big. After winning it before, to lift it again would just mean everything really. This is the tournament when people look back and say how many World Championships did this guy win. It would mean everything for me.
“I’ve probably had a low period for 18 months or two years, so I could have done better there. But the way I have played this year, my performances seem to be getting better and I am in a better place than I was a couple of years ago.
“I am enjoying the game more and looking forward to it. This year for consistency I suppose and what I have achieved, I have played some really good darts.
“Performances are better, I believe I have played the best I have played since winning the worlds, since 2018 this is the most consistent.”
The highlight of the evening session sees rising Australian star Damon Heta, the world number 10, take on Watford’s Martin Lukeman.
A win for Martin Lukeman to set up a clash with Damon Heta… pic.twitter.com/vrfSHjqNYP
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 18, 2023
Lukeman beat Haupai Puh in round one and is relishing the chance to take on Heta.
He said: “This is the main one everyone wants. It doesn’t matter how many people talk and say this major, that major, everyone wants to do the worlds.
“Damon’s an absolute gentleman, he’s a great fella and we always have battles. I’m looking forward to it.”
Order of Play
Afternoon session (from 1230 UK time)
Mickey Mansell v Xiaochen Zong (R1)
Luke Woodhouse v Berry van Peer (R1)
Madars Razma v Mike De Decker (R2)
Rob Cross v Thibault Tricole (R2)
Evening session (from 1900 UK time)
Andrew Gilding v Kist/Littler (R2)
Danny Noppert v Scott Williams (R2)
Gabriel Clemens v Man Lok Leung (R2)
Damon Heta v Martin Lukeman (R2)
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is being screened on Sky Sports in the UK.
You can watch the afternoon session on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event from 1230. The evening session is on Sky Sports Arena at 1900 and Sky Sports Main Event at 2200.
Predictions
Cross and Heta should progress with few alarms.
Elsewhere, expects wins from Mansell, Woodhouse, Noppert and Clemens.
