Rob Cross beat Joe Cullen 8-3 to win the opening Players Championship event of 2025 in Wigan after Luke Littler lost in the third round.

Cross has already won the Dutch Darts Masters last month and is one of the eight players in the Premier League Darts, which continues in Glasgow this Thursday – live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+ from 7pm.

The former world champion largely struggled in the behind-closed-doors Players Championship series last year, having not won an event since 2023.

“I’ve been adamant for the last four months. I’m hit and miss but when I find it, I can play some special darts,” said Cross.

“After last year’s experience [at the Players Championship series], it’s nice to win again. I was lazy at times last year but was too stubborn and wanted to spend time with the family.

“I’ve never won two titles this early in the year. If I can deliver that when I’m not feeling 100%, that’s just typical me isn’t it!”

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Chris Dobey took out 170 and reeled in The Big Fish against Rob Cross in Belfast!

Cross earlier beat Rob Owen, Owen Bates, James Hurrell and Carl Sneyd to reach the quarter-finals, where he overcame a big scare against Jermaine Wattimena to win 6-5, before defeating Andrew Gilding 7-3 in the semi-finals.

The 34-year-old raced into an early 3-0 lead in the final but Cullen fought back to 3-2. However, Cross won five of the next six legs to claim a second title on the PDC circuit this year.

Players Championship 1 Results

Quarter-finals
Rob Cross 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
Joe Cullen 6-4 Richard Veenstra
Luke Humphries 6-1 Darryl Pilgrim
Semi-finals
Rob Cross 7-3 Andrew Gilding
Joe Cullen 7-6 Luke Humphries
Final
Rob Cross 8-3 Joe Cullen

Cullen beats Littler, Humphries before coming up short

Cullen produced his best darts of 2025 so far on his way to runners-up spot in Wigan on Monday.

The man nicknamed ‘Rockstar’ edged past Greg Ritchie and Scott Williams in his opening two matches, then stunned Littler 6-3 in the last 32.

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Michael van Gerwen took revenge on Luke Littler during their Premier League classic on Night One in Belfast

After beating Dutchmen Gian van Veen 6-5 and Richard Veenstra 6-4, he won a last leg decider in the last four against Luke Humphries, to end the world No 1’s winning streak at 13 matches.

A second Players Championship event will take place in Wigan on Tuesday.

Watch the second night of Premier League Darts 2025 this Thursday from 7pm in Glasgow on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW