White can spark out former electrician Cross

Day three, Sky Sports Arena & Main Event, 7pm Monday
Rob Cross has taken to life on the PDC Tour in fine style but he could face a tough test of his big-stage credentials against Ian White in the first round of the World Matchplay.

Cross has enjoyed a fabulous debut season, winning two Players Championship floor events in Milton Keynes and Barnsley and while those excellent achievements should not be knocked the Hastings hero still has to prove he can perform on the TV stage.

It may well be that the former electrician takes to it, but the match prices seem to have been framed as if it is a given, and it's a little surprising to see White made the clear outsider by the layers.

The pair contested the final of the Milton Keynes event with Cross winning 6-5, but that was a floor tournament and White has far more experience of TV competitions, which could swing the balance in his favour.

You could point to Cross making the last 16 of the Coral UK Open in March as evidence of the Sussex arrowsmith performing in big events, and you certainly can't knock the prestige of the Minehead event, but most of his victories were on the Butlin's floor and when he stepped up to the big stage, albeit against an elite player in Peter Wright, he was brushed aside 10-6.

Diamond is a more than capable thrower and he looked in decent nick when making the quarter-finals in Barnsley earlier this month, beating Cross 6-4 on the way, and it's worth backing White to prevail again.

Adrian Lewis returns to action after undergoing surgery and Jackpot is a 2-5 shot to claim a comeback victory over Steve Beaton, while Simon Whitlock is a 4-6 poke against 11-8 chance Kyle Anderson.

Michael van Gerwen, the 8-11 tournament favourite before a dart was thrown, is 1-20 to reach the second round and any optimistic punters who fancy an upset can back Stephen Bunting at 12-1.

Recommendation
I White
2pts 13-10 Coral, Ladbrokes