ROB Cross continued his 2026 resurgence at the inaugural Slovak Darts Open in Bratislava on Sunday, despite a 3-8 defeat in a fantastic final to an irrestible Wessel Nijman.
Although Cross could not claim a third European Tour title, the 35-year-old followed up his Players Championship 22 triumph with a second £15,000 paycheque of the week after finishing runner-up in Bratislava.
The former World Champion’s campaign kicked off with an unconvincing win over Host Nation qualifier Juraj Holub, before upping his game to account for number one seed Gian van Veen with an accomplished 6-3 victory.
The two-time European Champion then pipped Kevin Doets in a last-leg decider having trailed 5-4, before recording his first win over Nathan Aspinall in 10 matches in emphatic fashion, defeating the former World Matchplay champion 6-2 with a 102.75 average.
Voltage then took on European Tour debutant Tom Sykes in the semi-final, producing another efficient performance to reach a first European Tour final in over two years, despite falling short to an imperious Nijman.
“Wessel played great there,” professed Cross, who missed just two darts at double in the final despite losing 8-3.
“I don’t enjoy the heat, but the crowd this weekend has been fantastic. It wasn’t my weekend, but things are heading in the right direction.
“I wouldn’t say I’m at my peak at the minute, but I’m starting to get there. I won a title in the week, another final today, and this was good practice for the World Matchplay!
“It’s just the beginning again, and I’m sure I have got many more majors left in me.”
Cross’s many supporters will be delighted to see the former World Champion showing such resilience after his much publicised personal difficulties of recent times.
As a former World Matchplay champion, and without bad huge amount of ranking pounds to defend from two years ago, Blackpool may present an ideal opportunity for Cross to make a big impact once more..
The PDC ProTour resumes with Players Championships 23-24 from July 6-7 in a crucial two days of darts, with the World Matchplay field to be finalised following the conclusion of Event 24.
The European Tour will return shortly after from July 10-12, as Leverkusen hosts the 2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open.
.2026 Slovak Darts Open
Sunday June 21
Afternoon Session
Rob Cross 6-5 Kevin Doets
Nathan Aspinall 6-0 Ryan Searle
Tom Sykes 6-4 Cameron Menzies
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Danny Noppert
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Ross Smith 6-4 Chris Dobey
Mike De Decker 6-5 Ryan Joyce
Wessel Nijman 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Evening Session Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
Tom Sykes 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Ross Smith 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Mike De Decker
Semi-Finals
Rob Cross 7-2 Tom Sykes
Wessel Nijman 7-6 Ross Smith
Final
Wessel Nijman 8-3 Rob Cross
—–ENDS—–
Inages: Paul Targyik/PDC Europe
