Taylor, who will retire after the event, was lining up a finish when clumsy Cross spilt his drink.

The 27-year-old, who took the opening set, had just fired in a 180 when he returned to the table to have a drink.

But as he went to put the glass of water down, Cross missed the table and sent the drink to the deck.

It disrupted the usually unflappable Taylor, who then made a mess of his visit before Cross took the leg and then the set.

As Taylor made his way back to the rear of the stage after the misdemeanour, Cross held both hands up to apologise to the 16-times world champion.

The Power seemed to take it in good spirits, smiling and fist pumping Cross in a show of forgiveness.

But Taylor was, minutes later, accused of gamesmanship by Sky Sports commentator Stuart Pyke.

He said: "This is where Rob Cross is a player well beyond his years of experience which rank at basically one.

"He was not going to be engaged in any kind of silly nonsense on the stage.

"Taylor was trying to make eye contact but Cross wasn't interested, why should he be?

"He's just intersted in restarting the game and trying to put another leg on the board and another set on the board. He's got an old head on his young shoulders."

TAYLOR v CROSS - Tale of the tape

PHIL TAYLOR

Age: 57

Born: Burslem.

Nickname: The Power.

Walk-on music: The Power by Snap!

Former job: Maker of ceramic toilet roll handles.

World ranking: 6.

Career prize earnings: £7.1m (not including World Championship).

World titles: 16.

Major career titles: 83

ROB CROSS

Age: 27

Born: Pembury.

Nickname: Voltage.

Walk-on music: Hot, Hot, Hot by Arrow.

Former job: Electrician.

World ranking: 20.

Career prize earnings: £211,250 (not including World Championship).

World titles: This is his debut.

Major career titles: 0