ST HELENS darters Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall missed out on the 2019 Unibet European Championship title in Göttingen, Germany, on Sunday.

It was Rob Cross who claimed a third televised ranking title and the £120,000 top prize.

The world number two denied Gerwyn Price of a second televised title in the decider, beating his Welsh opponent 11-6 in front of a packed crowd.

Smith's run ended in the semi-finals, falling 11-7 to Price.

Earlier in the day he defeated Jeffrey de Zwaan in the last eight.

Chisnall bowed out in the quarter-finals 10-5 to Daryl Gurney, who lost to the eventaul champion Cross 11-9 in the last four.

Smith’s quest to claim a first televised ranking title rolled into the final day as the world number four claimed a 10-7 win over fellow St Helens thrower Stephen Bunting.

Smith hit the front early on, racing in to a 3-0 lead and hitting a 158 finish, before Bunting reduced the deficit to just one at the first break.

The World Matchplay finalist then moved in to a 9-5 lead where he looked set to secure the win, before accidentally swallowing some ice, which appeared to slow his charge.

A tops-tops 100 finish did eventually get Smith over the line though and into the quarter-finals.

“I felt good and all of a sudden I swallowed a bit of ice when I was having a drink, my eyes were watering whilst I was trying to take out 96,” joked Smith after the game.

Chisnall produced the performance of day two, averaging 109.75 to see off Jonny Clayton in a 10-4 win to secure his place in the last eight.

He fired in 11 maximums to blow away his Welsh opponent.

It was Clayton who started the better of the pair, hitting two 121 finishes in the opening two legs to begin in style.

This seemed to inspire Chisnall, who at 3-2 down put together a run of four straight legs, which included a 142 checkout to wrestle control away from Clayton.

Despite averaging over 101 himself, Clayton was no match for his opponent as the World Grand Prix runner-up went on to seal a 10-4 victory.

“Once I got in my stride that treble 20 was like a magnet, they were all going in,” said Chisnall.

“Jonny started well and he brought the best game out of me, so this result is a bit tough on him.

“We all know my scoring game is there, it’s just doubles that have let me down over the years but I’ve been practicing hard on my doubles and it’s been working for me.”

The most impressive performance of Saturday afternoon’s first-round action saw Smith average 106.09 to blow away second seed Ian White 6-1.

Results:

First round: Joe Cullen 6-2 Mervyn King, Dave Chisnall 6-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh, Ricky Evans 6-5 Glen Durrant, Simon Whitlock 6-1 Adrian Lewis, Rob Cross 6-3 Darren Webster, Jonny Clayton 6-0 James Wade, Ross Smith 6-5 Michael van Gerwen, Daryl Gurney 6-4 William O'Connor, Jermaine Wattimena 6-1 Jamie Hughes, Stephen Bunting 6-1 Keegan Brown, Chris Dobey 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski, Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Steve Beaton, Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Mensur Suljovic, Michael Smith 6-1 Ian White, Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price 6-4 Ted Evetts.

Second round: Rob Cross 10-7 Joe Cullen, Daryl Gurney 10-7 Simon Whitlock, Dave Chisnall 10-4 Jonny Clayton, Ricky Evans 10-7 Ross Smith, Vincent dan der Voort 10-5 Chris Dobey, Michael Smith 10-7 Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price 10-6 Nathan Aspinall, Jeffrey de Zwaan 10-6 Jermaine Wattimena.

Quarter-finals: Rob Cross 10-6 Ricky Evans, Daryl Gurney 10-5 Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith 10-5 Jeffrey de Zwaan, Gerwyn Price 10-8 Vincent van der Voort.

Semi-finals: Rob Cross 11-9 Daryl Gurney, Gerwyn Price 11-7 Michael Smith.

Final: Rob Cross 11-6 Gerwyn Price.