Victory follows family tragedy for PDC darts ace

The world number four from St Leonards topped group 21 of the Unibet Home Tour last Thursday night - just four weeks after the death of his grandfather, Colin Miles, from Covid-19 and days after the funeral.

Cross wrote on Twitter: “Obviously pleased to win my Home Tour group. I didn’t play great and I’ll do better next time.

“It’s been a tough lockdown losing my grandad. I miss the old boy so much. Thanks for all the kind messages.”

Cross won all three of his matches to become the highest ranked group winner in the PDC’s first ever home-staged competition to date.

The reigning World Matchplay and European Championship title holder began with a routine 5-2 victory over William Borland.

Cross then edged out two-time world youth champion Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-4, despite averaging nearly 10 points less than his Belgian opponent and surviving several missed match darts.

The 29-year-old showed the class you’d expect of a former world champion in his final match, staging a tremendous comeback from 4-0 down to pip Karel Sedlacek 5-4.

Czech Republic number one Sedlacek started superbly and looked set to top the group until Cross produced some incredible darts to reel off five straight legs for an improbable win.

The Unibet Home Tour has given all PDC Tour Card holders the opportunity to play competitive darts in preparation for a return to normal action, whenever that may be, with matches brought to fans worldwide through live video calls.

The competition has begun with 32 nights of league action and the winners of each group advance to the second phase. Four players battle it out each night, with matches played over the best of nine legs.

Cross, who worked as an electrician before embarking on a highly successful darts career, has also spent time during the lockdown completing a new darts room in his garden. And he has set up a fundraising page in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Donations can be made at https://colin-miles.muchloved.com/