Darts New World Champion

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Rob Cross thrashes Phil Taylor 7-2 in the PDC World Darts Championship final as the Power's career ends in disappointment (January 01 2018)

Rob Cross completed his remarkable rise to the top of the sport as he sent Phil Taylor into retirement with a thumping 7-2 victory in the PDC World Darts Championship final.

Recap every throw and match highlights with our World Championship Final blog

The Power was bidding to bow out on the ultimate high of a 17th World Championship title but his fairytale ending was shattered by a sensational performance from the fastest rising star in darts.

And now Cross' ascent, which only started at the beginning of 2017 when he joined the PDC pro circuit, is already complete with what surely is the first of many major crowns.

'Voltage' ended the calendar year having won millions of fans during his debut World Championship campaign thanks to heart-stopping matches with fellow young stars Michael Smith and Dimitri van den Bergh before an enthralling 6-5 victory over Michael van Gerwen, which will firmly be etched in the annals of this sport.

And Cross surpassed all of what had gone before as he kicked off 2018 by getting his hands on the biggest prize in darts after a performance which belied his inexperience.

The former electrician averaged 107.43, hit 11 180s, fired set-winning checkouts of 167 and 153 and nailed 58.82% of his doubles (20/34) as he afforded Taylor just 10 legs in a one-sided final.

The Power averaged 102.26 himself and hit 12 180s in a display which would have beaten many other players but the 57-year-old heads into the sunset without being able to lift the prestigious Sid Waddell trophy one last time.

If anyone wondered who would replace Phil Taylor as England's dominant force in darts, wonder no more.

"I feel great, but I've got to say it's Phil's last year, I've won my first world trophy but it's about him departing and that's why I let him lift the trophy with me," said Cross.

"He's been phenomenal, it was my dream 15 years ago to play this guy and now I've played him, it's absolute phenomenal.

"In the final today it was a dream to play Phil - I always wanted to play Phil.

"Watching him with his dominance over the years he has been excellent and you won't see another sportsman like him, you definitely won't.

"It's a life-changer, it's a fairy tale."

Scroll down for routes to the final, Rob Cross' timeline of success and Phil Taylor's career trophies while their tournament statistics and quotes will appear here soon...

The stunning rise of Rob Cross (courtesy of www.PDC.tv)

March 2016: As a Rileys Amateur Qualifier, he reaches fourth round of the UK Open Finals in Minehead, where he loses 9-5 to Michael van Gerwen, who hit a nine-dart finish between two 170 checkouts.
March 2016: Joins PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour
June 2016: Wins first Challenge Tour event.
September 2016: Wins two Challenge Tour events, hitting a nine-darter in one. Tops final 2016 Challenge Tour Order of Merit to secure PDC Tour Card for 2017/2018.
February 2017: Makes PDC ProTour debut in Coral UK Open Qualifier One in Wigan, earning £250 prize money.
March 2017: Reaches fifth round of UK Open Finals in Minehead, losing out 10-6 to Peter Wright.
March 2017: Wins Players Championship Three in Barnsley, defeating Mervyn King 6-5 in final.
April 2017: Quarter-finalist on European Tour debut, losing out to Benito van de Pas.
May 2017: Wins Players Championship 12 in Milton Keynes, defeating Ian White 6-5 in final.
July 2017: Defeats Michael van Gerwen for the first time on his way to another European Tour quarter-final in Germany.
September 2017: Reaches European Tour final in Germany, losing to Michael van Gerwen.
September 2017: Wins Players Championship 19 in Dublin, defeating Peter Wright 6-2 in final.
October 2017: Wins Players Championship 21 in Barnsley, defeating Adrian Lewis 6-3 in final.
October 2017: Reaches European Tour final in Germany, losing to Michael van Gerwen.
October 2017: Reaches first TV final at the European Championship in Belgium, losing 11-7 to Michael van Gerwen.
November 2017: Quarter-finalist on debut in World Series of Darts Finals and Grand Slam of Darts.
November 2017: Semi-finalist in Players Championship Finals, losing to Jonny Clayton. Moves up to 20th in PDC Order of Merit.
December 2017: Reaches World Darts Championship final on Alexandra Palace after beating Michael van Gerwen.

Phil Taylor's career major titles

14 x PDC World Champion (1995-2002, 2004-2006, 2009, 2010, 2013)
2 x BDO World Champion (1990, 1992)
16 x World Matchplay champion (1995, 1997, 2000-2004, 2006, 2008-2014, 2017)
11 x World Grand Prix champion (1998-2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013)
5 x UK Open champion (2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013)
6 x Grand Slam of Darts champion (2007-2009, 2011, 2013, 2014)
6 x Premier League champion (2005-2008, 2010, 2012)
4 x European Champion (2008-2011)
3 x Players Championship Finals champion (2009, 2011, 2012)
Masters champion (2013)
Champions League of Darts winner (2016)
4x World Cup winner (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Over 100 other PDC titles

Routes to the final

Rob Cross

First round: 3-0 v Seigo Asada
(Ave: 104.12, 180s: 6, Doubles: 9/18)
Second round: 4-3 v Michael Smith
(Ave: 102.65, 180s: 16, Doubles: 12/31)
Third round: 4-1 v John Henderson
(Ave: 99.77, 180s: 7, Doubles: 13/22)
Quarter-finals: 5-4 v Dimitri van den Bergh
(Ave: 97.13, 180s: 11, Doubles: 19/50)
Semi-finals: 6-5 v Michael van Gerwen
(Ave: 100.97, 180s: 15, Doubles: 27/71)

Phil Taylor

First round: 3-1 v Chris Dobey
(Ave: 96.33, 180s: 3, Doubles: 11/25)
Second round: 4-0 v Justin Pipe
(Ave: 99.37, 180s: 2, Doubles: 12/22)
Third round: 4-0 v Keegan Brown
(Ave: 101.34, 180s: 4, Doubles: 12/19)
Quarter-finals: 5-3 v Gary Anderson
(Ave: 102.02, 180s: 12, Doubles: 20/40)
Semi-Finals: 6-1 v Jamie Lewis
(Ave: 99.87, 180s: 5, Doubles: 20/38)

Tournament Statistics

180s
Cross - 66
Taylor - 38

Average
Cross - 101.63
Taylor - 100.45

Doubles hit
Cross - 101/127
Taylor - 85/166

100+ checkouts
Cross - 8 (Highest 167)
Taylor - 11 (Highest 151)

Sets won-lost
Cross - 29-15
Taylor - 24-12

Legs won-lost
Cross - 101-82
Taylor - 85-65

Sets won-lost on deciding legs
Cross - 11-4
Taylor - 11-4