Cross moves through World Darts Championship as Cullen angered in defeat

Anthony Paphitis

Joe Cullen was beaten by Mensur Suljovic at the PDC World Darts ChampionshipTaylor Lanning / PDC

Former winner Rob Cross moved into the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship with a 3-1 victory over Ian White, while Joe Cullen fumed after a 3-1 defeat to Mensur Suljovic.

An entertaining first set went the way of 2018 champion Cross, but only after White held his first leg of the match with a stunning 167 via the bull.

The 55-year-old White rebounded in the second stanza, whitewashing the three legs to level the match at 1-1.

Cross returned the favour in the third set and restored his advantage by taking out 113 for his first ton-plus checkout of proceedings.

'Voltage' remained in the mood and with the fourth set being sent to a last-leg decider, Cross removed 82 to confirm his progression.

Frustrated Cullen rocked by Suljovic

The 32nd seed Cullen was sent packing by Suljovic and was angered by his opponent's antics on the Alexandra Palace stage.

'The Rockstar' made a strong start by steaming through the first set, which saw him hit a 170 checkout and average 75 per cent on the doubles.

Suljovic, though, responded to win the second set and overturned a two-leg deficit in the third to move 2-1 up in the match.

Frustration set into Cullen's game as he fumed with Suljovic's speed of play and the Austrian was told off by referee Kirk Bevins for taking too long over his celebrations.

That rattled Cullen more and it caused him to wilt in a last-leg decider, with the pair engaging in a frosty exchange after Suljovic's match dart.

"Always liked Mensur away from the board but that was plain for all to see!" Cullen posted on social media afterwards.

"I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way. The old guard will say it's part of the game but word it how you will - it's CHEATING! That's not darts."

Elsewhere, Luke Woodhouse dropped just one leg en route to an impressive 3-0 win over Max Hopp.

Woodhouse opened with a 107.36 average in a dominant first set and won six legs in a row in a routine win over the German player.

In the session's opening match, Krzysztof Ratajski got past 24th seed Ryan Joyce 3-1.

'The Polish Eagle' tallied an average just shy of 94 and took out a 135 checkout to progress to round three.