Blackpool champion Rob Cross suffers shock early exit in World Matchplay darts

Debutant Gabriel Clemens defeated champion Rob Cross in the first round at Milton Keynes

Pretending he's in Blackpool helps Simon Whitlock to World Matchplay victory

Gabriel Clemens enjoyed a dream debut by knocking out the reigning champion 10-8 on the second night of action in Milton Keynes.

Cross had lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy at the Winter Gardens 12 months ago, but became the first defending champion to lose in the first round since 2006.

The Professional Darts Corporation’s summer showpiece, staged at the Blackpool venue annually since its launch in 1994, has been switched for the first time because spectators are unable to attend due to coronavirus.

German Clemens was in superb form against the world number four, three times holding a two-leg lead before Cross hit the front for the first time at 6-5.

But Clemens held his nerve to seal the biggest win of his career and said: “It’s amazing. Rob had a lot of pressure this year and I didn’t play very well. After the 170 my scoring became better and I was the lucky man on the day.”

Clemens will meet Krzysztof Ratajski in the second round.

Another shock from a debutant was on the cards later in the night, when Portugal’s Jose De Sousa led World Champion Peter Wright 8-5.

Wright changed to a set of darts with a shorter point and also removed his glasses, which he was wearing for the first time in a televised game, to rattle off five straight legs for a 10-8 victory.

“I’m relieved to get over the line but I’m really disappointed with the way I played,” said Wright, the 2017 runner-up. “In the World Championship I had a bit of luck in the first round and went on to win it, and this could spur me on this week.”

Wright faces another stiff test in round two after Glen Durrant produced a superb performance to race past Jeffrey de Zwaan 10-3, averaging 107.

2018 runner-up Mensur Suljovic battled back from the brink of defeat to overcome Jamie Hughes 12-10 in a thrilling tie-break to open Sunday’s action.

A high-quality tie saw both players average over 100 and Suljovic land 10 180s to Hughes’ eight.

Hughes led 9-7 advantage but Suljovic hit back to complete a gutsy win.

Last year’s runner-up Michael Smith averaged over 101 in his 10-3 victory over Welshman Jonny Clayton, having taken seven successive legs to move 8-1 up.

The first round continues on Monday with a further five matches, which include Grand Slam of Darts champion Gerwyn Price up against Danny Noppert and former finalist Adrian Lewis’ meeting the evergreen Steve Beaton.