Cross sets up Littler tie, Anderson wins thriller

Rob Cross, the previous champion of the PDC World Championship, won the matchup with Luke Littler, the reigning champion.

Cross, who won the event in 2018, prevailed comfortably over Australian and 16th-seeded Damon Heta.

Gary Anderson, a two-time champion, and Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, who had a final-set thriller against the 17th seed, joined him in round four.

Scot Anderson was impressive in setting 121 in a game played at a fierce pace and going 3-1 up.

In the fifth set, he made three match darts before missing the same target twice, striking double eight with his first dart with 32 required.

Anderson missed more match darts at the tops in set six, but Wattimena forced a final set.

In the final set, Anderson went eight darts into the nine-darter before taking the double 12 high, earning the set 5-3 to continue his age-old championship quest.

He had a 37.5% checkout rate and an average of 102.24, which is the eighth-highest in the tournament this year.

For my age, it’s not good. Particularly with Jermaine on you, it’s challenging. What a game, Anderson claimed to Sky Sports.

“The last two games, 4-0, 4-0. That’s likely to make up for it, I hope. I’m going to lie right now.

Like I bottled a lot of doubles, I bottled the nine-darter. I wasn’t very excited, which is unusual. But I succeeded in accomplishing it.

Afternoon tea

Martin Schindler (13) 0-4 Ryan Searle (20)

Damon Heta (16) 0-4 Rob Cross (17)

Gary Anderson (14) 4-3 Jermaine Wattimena (19)

Evening session (19: 00)

Madars Razma vs. Gian van Veen ten

Gabriel Clemens and Luke Humphries (2)

Afternoon tea (12:30)

Ryan Meikle vs. Justin Hood

Charlie Manby vs. Ricky Evans

Kevin Doets vs. Nathan Aspinall (15)

Evening session (19: 00)

Callan Rydz and Josh Rock (11),