Rob Cross on his previous triumph as motivation for the World Darts Championship: I received it as soon as so I can win it once more | Darts Information

Though Rob Cross will all the time enter Alexandra Palace with the stress of being a former champion on his shoulders, it's not one thing he spends time specializing in at Worlds.

Cross shocked the darts world in 2018 when, on his Palace debut, he turned champion after beating Phil Taylor 7-2 simply 11 months after turning skilled.

He has since established himself as one of many world's finest gamers and heads into the 2024/25 match as world quantity 4 on the PDC Order of Benefit and in good kind.

With such a giant win on his resume in a match he all the time does effectively in, Cross goes into Worlds yearly as one of many greatest names talked about.

However reasonably than seeing his former triumph as an added layer of stress, Cross prefers to see it as motivation: if he's already received all of it as soon as, there's no cause why he can't do it once more.

“Anyway, I feel there's a giant distinction with profitable stuff, however basically it's all the time good to know you may win one thing,” Cross stated.

“As a result of whenever you haven't executed it, whenever you haven't executed it otherwise you haven't received it and also you're like, effectively, I hope I can win it.

“However on the similar time it turns into irritating to not win once more.

“So I've had a drought of about six or seven years now and I'll should type of change that in some unspecified time in the future.

“I feel the Worlds have been essentially the most tough for me as a result of whoever has been world champion by no means needs to provide it again and I perceive that, however I perceive it.

“However do I normally provide you with protection stuff or one thing like that, it doesn't even cross my thoughts. I'm not a lot of a thinker to be trustworthy.

“It's all the time higher to win the titles than to have them, however on the similar time you shouldn't take into consideration the cash from two years in the past or a 12 months in the past or no matter, going there for the defending and taking a look at him like that, it's simply further stress.

“I'll go in there and I'll most likely have a look at it as a optimistic and say, effectively, I received it as soon as so I can win it once more as a substitute of it being a unfavourable.

“Strain is man-made and that’s by no means a superb factor, is it?”

Regardless that Cross doesn't wish to put further stress on himself, there’s all the time the motivation that in the future he wish to be introduced as a two-time world champion.

“I feel the large image I've all the time set for myself and I'm getting in, I need to win each match I play as a result of it's clearly only a mentality, however on the similar time I'm simply going sport by sport , actually as they arrive they usually appear to be coming quick and laborious,” he added.

“Simply sport by sport and actually, look to the top of my nostril, however look no additional than that.

“Knock on wooden, I by no means actually play a foul sport there, I actually take pleasure in it, I like it, it's simply a type of locations the place I stroll round with all of the recollections and different issues that I 've had there, I’d nonetheless love the place even when I didn't play.

“If you wish to play your finest darts and should you can play your finest darts, that is the place you need to do it.

“I need to win every thing, I need to be introduced as a double world champion. On the similar time, it's simply going to be one match at a time, you understand, I feel it's a type of locations the place it's the largest match on the earth and everyone seems to be elevating their sport.”

Cross on THIS Littler match: “He’s unimaginable for the sport”

Throughout the 2023/24 match, Cross handled darts followers to some epic moments and matches, with 'Voltage' that includes in a historic semi-final in opposition to one Luke Littler on his debut.

Littler averaged 106.05, hitting 16 maximums and finishes of 149, 142 and 132 en path to a surprising 6-2 victory and Cross, now in a position to have a look at the larger image, sees how good this race was “superb” for the sport. .

“To be trustworthy, look, we're all born making an attempt to be winners and stuff like that, but it surely's not good whenever you lose,” Cross stated.

“However have a look at the larger image, you understand, the boy and what Luke completed after that’s simply unimaginable.

“I'm not a jealous darts or stares individual. I suppose I'll go for it, I'm a competitor and I need to win once I'm up there, however whenever you exit I have a look at it, I simply assume he's been unimaginable for the sport as effectively.”

Though Cross shall be one of many favorites once more this 12 months, there have been loads of shocks and upsets in darts in 2024 and the world quantity 4 isn't ruling out extra occurring at Ally Pally.

“I simply take into consideration darts now, should you took it again ten years in the past you could possibly most likely choose three individuals who may win a match or 4 should you have been beneficiant,” Cross added.

“Now unexpectedly you have a look at that and also you most likely have, I don’t know, out of 32, you positively have 24 and you may most likely write off the opposite eight.

“So I feel it’s good for an observer, I feel for individuals watching and watching at residence.”

When will the World Darts Championship happen?

The match begins at Alexandra Palace on Sunday, December 15, with three first spherical matches and one second spherical match on the opening evening.

There shall be stay darts over every of the next eight days, together with seven afternoon classes, 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 conclude on December 30 earlier than a night off on New 12 months's Eve, with the quarter-finals going down over two classes on New 12 months's Day earlier than the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday 3 January.

The complete every day schedule for this 12 months's match will be considered here.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match completely stay from December 15 to January 3 on Sky Sports activities' devoted darts channel. Stream darts and many other top sports with NOW.