Though Rob Cross will at all times stroll into Alexandra Palace with the stress of being a former champion on his shoulders, it’s not one thing he spends time specializing in on the Worlds.
Cross shocked the darting world again in 2018 when, on his debut on the Palace, he walked away as champion after defeating Phil Taylor 7-2 simply 11 months after turning skilled.
He has since cemented himself as one of many world’s prime gamers and goes into the 2024/25 event as world no 4 on the PDC Order of Advantage and in type.
With such a momentous win on his CV in a event he at all times does nicely in, Cross heads into the Worlds every year as one of many prime names being talked about.
Debutant Rob Cross sensationally lifted the World Championship title in 2018, defeating Phil Taylor in his last-ever recreation.
However somewhat than seeing his former triumph as an added layer of stress, Cross prefers to see it as motivation that if he has received this complete factor as soon as earlier than, there is no such thing as a cause why he cannot do it once more.
“I feel there is a huge distinction with profitable stuff anyway, simply usually, it is at all times good to know which you can win one thing,” Cross stated.
“As a result of when you have not performed it, when you have not performed it or you have not received it and also you’re saying to your self, nicely, I hope I can win it.
“However on the identical time it does get irritating when you do not win it once more.
Rob Cross lands spectacular 164, 160 and 110 checkouts throughout his Grand Slam of Darts victory over Ritchie Edhouse.
“So, I’ve had a couple of six or seven-year drought now and I type of want to vary that in some unspecified time in the future.
“I feel the Worlds was the toughest one for me as a result of whoever’s been world champion by no means needs to provide it again and I get that, however I perceive that.
“However do I discover typically defending stuff or something like that, it would not even enter my mind. I am not that a lot of a thinker to be sincere.
“You are at all times higher to win the titles than have them, however on the identical time, you should not assume from two years in the past with cash or a yr in the past or no matter, moving into there to defend it and it like that, it is simply additional stress.
“I will go in there and I will most likely take a look at it as a optimistic and I will assume to myself, nicely I’ve received it as soon as so I can win it once more as a substitute of creating a unfavorable.
“Stress’s man-made and it is by no means an excellent factor, is it?”
Rob Cross hits an enormous 156 checkout towards Ryan Joyce within the World Grand Prix Darts quarter-final.
Though Cross would not prefer to put additional stress on himself, there may be at all times the motivation that someday he want to be introduced because the two-time world champion.
“I feel the general image I at all times set myself out and I am going I need to win each event that I am going into as a result of clearly that is simply mentality however on the identical time I am simply recreation by recreation, actually as they arrive and so they appear to return thick and quick,” he added.
Rob Cross knocked out Luke Littler with an 88 end on the bullseye within the first spherical of the World Grand Prix Darts.
“Simply recreation by recreation and actually simply look to the top of my nostril just about, simply not look any additional than that.
“Contact wooden, I by no means actually play a nasty recreation there, I actually take pleasure in it, I like it, it is simply one in every of them locations I stroll in with all of the recollections and different stuff that I’ve had there, I’ll at all times love the place even when I wasn’t enjoying.
“If you are going to play your greatest darts and should you can play your greatest darts, that is the place you need to do it.
“I need to win the entire thing, I need to be introduced two-time world champion. On the identical time, it will simply be one recreation at a time, you already know, I feel it is one in every of them locations the place it is the most important event on the earth and everybody raises their recreation.”
Cross on THAT Littler match: ‘He’s wonderful for the sport’
What a rare leg of darts! Rob Cross practically hits a 9 however Luke Littler takes it for the fourth set.
Again within the 2023/24 event, Cross supplied darts followers with some epic moments and matches, ‘Voltage’ concerned in a semi-final for the ages towards a sure Luke Littler on his debut.
Littler averaged 106.05, hitting 16 maximums and ton-plus finishes of 149, 142 and 132 en path to a powerful 6-2 victory and Cross, now in a position to take a look at the larger image, sees how “wonderful” that run was for the sport.
“To be sincere, look, we’re all born making an attempt to be winners and stuff like that but it surely’s not good if you lose,” Cross stated.
“However take a look at the larger image, you already know, the boy and what Luke’s gone on to attain after that’s nothing wanting wonderful.
“I am not a jealous individual away from darts or wanting in. I suppose I will go up there, I am a competitor and I need to win after I’m up there however if you come off, I take a look at him, I simply assume he is been wonderful. He’s wonderful for the sport too.”
Rob Cross got here again from 4-0 right down to Chris Dobey to finish a ‘darting miracle!’
Whereas Cross shall be a favorite once more this yr, there was loads of shocks and upsets in darts in 2024 and the world No 4 isn’t ruling out extra taking place at Ally Pally.
“I simply assume darts now, should you took it again ten years in the past you possibly can most likely choose three folks that would win a event or 4 should you have been being beneficiant,” Cross added.
“Now unexpectedly, you are it and you’ve got most likely acquired, I do not know, out of 32 you’ve got acquired a particular 24 and you’ll most likely write off the opposite eight.
“So, I feel that is good for a watcher, I feel for the folks wanting in and watching at house.”
When will the World Darts Championship happen?
The event will get beneath method at Alexandra Palace on Sunday December 15, with three first-round matches and one second-round match on the opening night.
Talking on Love The Darts, Michael Bridge and Polly James debate which gamers are nonetheless to be feared when enjoying towards them.
There shall be reside darts over every of the next eight days, together with seven afternoon periods, with the standard three-day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day earlier than returning with the third spherical and a double session on December 27.
The third and fourth rounds shall be accomplished by December 30 earlier than an evening off on New 12 months’s Eve, with the quarter-finals held throughout two periods on New 12 months’s Day forward of the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday January 3.
The total day-by-day schedule for this yr’s event could be discovered right here.
Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match completely reside from December 15-January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW.
