Rob Cross captured his first ranking title of 2026 at Players Championship 22 in Wigan, defeating Maik Kuivenhoven 8-5 in Wednesday's final. The former world champion reeled off seven consecutive wins to claim the £15,000 top prize at Robin Park Leisure Centre, posting a tournament average of 98.91 to secure his World Matchplay spot.

Cross dominated the field with commanding performances throughout the day. He opened with 6-1 victories over Chris Landman and Jimmy van Schie, including a 103.43 average against the latter. The 35-year-old continued his march past Connor Scutt 6-2 and David Sharp 6-1, before edging Alexander Merkx 6-4 in the quarter-finals. Against Stephen Bunting in the semis, Cross produced checkouts of 170, 127 and 130 to advance.

In the final, Cross built a 4-2 lead before Kuivenhoven rallied to force a tense finale. Cross missed four match darts but recovered to win 8-5, celebrating his 11th Players Championship crown. Meanwhile, Kuivenhoven reached his first career Pro Tour final, breaking new ground despite the loss.

This victory marks Cross's first ranking title since the opening Players Championship event of 2025, ending a drought that threatened his World Matchplay qualification. His consistent form across seven matches proves he remains a threat to the sport's elite players.