Cross sets up Littler tie, Anderson wins thriller

Former winner Rob Cross cruised through at the PDC World Championship and set up a last-16 tie against defending champion Luke Littler.

Cross, who won the event in 2018, brushed aside Australian and 16th seed Damon Heta in a comfortable 4-0 win.

The 17th seed was joined in round four by two-time winner Gary Anderson, who edged a final-set thriller against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena.

Scot Anderson went 3-1 up in a game played at a ferocious pace, and was impressive in averaging 121 in set three.

He missed three match darts in the fifth set, hitting double eight with his first dart with 32 required, before missing the same target twice.

Wattimena powered back and forced a final set, despite Anderson missing more match darts at tops in set six.

Anderson went eight darts into the nine-darter in the final set, before going high on the double 12, and eventually claimed the set 5-3 to continue his quest to be the tournament’s oldest winner at 55.

He averaged 102.24 – the eighth-highest average in this year’s tournament – and was at 37.5% on the checkouts.

“It’s no good for my age. It’s hard, especially with Jermaine on you. What a game,” Anderson told Sky Sports.

“The last two games, 4-0, 4-0. I hope that’s made up for it. I’m going to lie down now.

“I bottled the nine-darter, like I bottled a lot of doubles. I was getting excited, I don’t often do that up there. But I got it done.”

Afternoon session

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)

Gian van Veen (10) v Madars Razma

Luke Humphries (2) v Gabriel Clemens

Afternoon session (12:30)

Justin Hood v Ryan Meikle

Ricky Evans v Charlie Manby

Nathan Aspinall (15) v Kevin Doets

Evening session (19:00)

Josh Rock (11) v Callan Rydz