Cross sees off debutant Williams in World Championship thriller

World number six Cross emerged victorious in what was a tense battle at Alexandra Palace which saw every set in the match go the distance.

Williams - making his tournament debut aged 32 - caught the 2018 champion by surprise in the opening set by clinically finishing three of his four checkout opportunities to take an early lead.

But the second frame saw both players remain on throw and Cross raise his game, averaging 108.82 to level up proceedings.

The holds of throw would not continue in the third set, though, with Cross and Williams being broken in every leg and the former managing to come away with a 2-1 lead.

Set four saw the pair hold throw and then exchange breaks which handed Cross - also known as 'Voltage' - the chance to throw for the win which he took.

Williams' final throw saw him go out with a stunning no-look 180 with Cross taking out 32 to set up a meeting with Mervyn King after the Christmas break.

Elsewhere, Ross Smith rattled off 10 maximums to defeat Lithuanian contender Darius Labanauskas and set up an intriguing third-round tie against Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Earlier in the day, Chris Dobey brushed aside Martijn Kleermaker, just as Brendan Dolan did with Jimmy Hendriks in the first match of the day.