PDC World Championship: Former champions Rob Cross and Adrian Lewis suffer shock second-round defeats

Former champions Rob Cross and Adrian Lewis both suffered surprise second-round defeats at the PDC World Championship.

Cross, the winner in 2018, lost 3-2 in a thrilling encounter with Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Earlier on Tuesday, two-time champion Adrian Lewis fell to a 3-1 loss against American Danny Baggish.

Baggish will face 2020 Premier League winner Glen Durrant next, while Van Duijvenbode takes on Adam Hunt.

Lewis, 35, who won consecutive world titles in 2011 and 2012, paid for a slow start, missing 15 attempts at doubles in the opening two sets.

Although he found his range in the third set, Baggish, 37, landed a 170 check-out to help seal his victory.

“I’m so happy. That is a special win for me,” said Baggish, who dedicated his win to his brother, Harrison, who had suffered a severe stroke at home in Florida.

“That was for my brother. I’m really emotional and that’s why I let it all out at the end. It has been a difficult and emotional 24 hours, but I am doing him proud and that means everything.”

Cross, 30, who lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy at his first attempt in 2018, had put himself in a strong position by winning two of the opening three sets.

But Van Duijvenbode, 28, took the fourth set without dropping a leg to force a dramatic decider.

And the Dutchman finished in superb style, closing out with a 99 finish to send his English opponent home.

Meanwhile Simon Whitlock, the 2010 runner-up, defeated Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas in five sets, while Joe Cullen beat Wayne Jones 3-0, and will face Welsh World Cup of Darts winner Jonny Clayton next.

Brendan Dolan recorded a 3-1 win over Japanese qualifier Edward Foulkes to secure his place in the third round against world number three Gerwyn Price and Dimitri van den Bergh eased to a 3-0 victory over Paul Lim.

BBC