Scott Williams seized his opportunity on the grand stage, delivering a shocking 3-1 defeat to close friend and world number five Rob Cross at the World Darts Championship on Monday night. The upset at Alexandra Palace marked Cross as the 14th seed to exit during the second round, sending shockwaves through the competition.

Cross opened strong, clinching the first set and dominating the early legs of the second. However, Williams roared back from two legs down to even the score, capitalizing on Cross’s missed doubles to take control of the match. This triumph not only avenged Williams’s loss to the 2018 champion two years ago but also propelled him into the tournament spotlight.

Match Stats Williams Cross
Sets Won 3 1
Doubles Hit % 45% 39%
Key Legs Recovered 2

“It’s so tough because Rob is one of my closest friends,” Williams said post-match. “Neither of us were great tonight, but Rob missed doubles and gave me a chance. When you get those opportunities, you’ve got to take them.”

Looking ahead, Williams will enjoy a well-deserved Christmas break with family before returning to face Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko in the third round. Pietreczko earned his spot with a convincing win over Gian van Veen earlier on Monday. With the stage heating up and several top seeds already eliminated, Williams is proving to be a formidable contender in this year’s championship.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *