Rob Cross held off a Stephen Bunting fightback to win the Dutch Darts Masters with an 8-5 triumph in the final.
The victory is Cross’ first title of 2025 and his fifth on the World Series Circuit, but his first ever World Series event win in Europe.
His opponent Bunting had entered the tournament as the No 1 seed following his victory in Bahrain in the opening World Series event of the year, and made his ranking count until he came face-to-face with what had been clinical darts from Cross throughout the tournament.
Cross came out full of confidence and got off to the better start, his consistency on the trebles plus strong doubling helping him to a break of throw in the opening leg that carried him onto a 4-2 lead.
Bunting rallied and took three legs on the spin with back-to-back 12-dart legs and a 130 checkout on the bull to bring the final level at 5-5.
However, world No 4 Cross stayed calm under the pressure and took control once again for three more legs in a row, cementing the win on D8.
“Obviously the crowd has been brilliant,” Cross told ITV.
“I think it is about time I won in Netherlands. I am very grateful.
“Stephen (Bunting) is a great man… he is a credit to the sport. I am just so grateful that I won.”
‘Voltage’ booked his place in the final with a comprehensive 7-3 victory over Gerwyn Price.
Cross got off to the better start in the battle and made it count with a break of throw in the third leg helping him move 4-2 in front, a 121 checkout then clinical darts on his own throw wrapping up the dominant win.
He had started his night with a strong 6-3 victory over Jermaine Wattimena.
The game went with the darts for seven legs until ‘Voltage’ finally struck, pinning 100 on tops for a decisive break of throw before finishing off the contest on D8.
Bunting beats Littler, Barney en-route to another final
Bunting booked his spot in the final with a dramatic 7-6 victory over reigning world champion Luke Littler, the 18-year-old averaging a tournament record 107.59 but still walking away with a loss.
Littler, who beat ‘The Bullet’ 6-1 in the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship, got off to an electric start as he pinned back-to-back 11-darters but Bunting managed to battle back and found a crucial break of throw of his own to bring the contest level at 3-3.
With a break from each player moving the game to 4-4, Bunting came through with a clutch 125 checkout to move 6-5 ahead before taking out 81 on D12 to make it into the final on the first time of asking.
Stephen Bunting defied a tournament record average from Luke Littler to make it through to the final
Bunting set up the clash against Littler with a 6-5 last-leg shoot-out victory over Dutch stalwart Raymond van Barneveld.
In what was a bizarre contest with disastrous displays on the doubles and busts for both, Bunting used his superior scoring to give himself breathing space in the final leg and ultimately wrap things up on D16.
Littler and MVG renew rivalry for first time since Worlds
In their first meeting since the World Darts Championship final, Littler held off a mid-match fight back from 2024 Dutch Darts Masters champion Michael van Gerwen to wrap up a comprehensive 6-3 victory in their quarter-final clash.
Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen put on an enthralling contest in their quarter-final
Van Gerwen was in his own backyard and looking to avenge his worlds loss to the 18-year-old but Littler took the early momentum to move 3-0 ahead, the Dutchman taking some time to find his groove.
Despite MVG then winning three legs on the spin, Littler’s big scoring proved pivotal and he raced to take the remaining three legs, wrapping the match up on tops in clinical fashion.
After 14 meetings between the pair, the scoreline is now 8-6 in Littler’s favour with the victory guaranteeing a new winner of the Worlds Series event.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of Luke Littler against Michael van Gerwen in the final of the World Darts Championship
Elsewhere, Price held off a late rally from Kevin Doets in their quarter-final, wrapping up the contest with a brilliant 145 checkout in a last-leg shootout.
Doets had opportunities to take control of the game but missed opportunities on the doubles cost him, finally battling back to 5-5 with a big break of throw.
However, in a nervy final leg, the ‘Iceman’ lived up to his nickname and came through with the big finish, leaving Doets to rue what could have been.
Sky Sports will once again be home of the Premier League in 2025, with every night exclusively live along with the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and more! Stream darts and more top sport with NOW
