Whereas Rob Cross at all times walked into Alexandra Palace carrying the strain of being a former champion, that wasn’t one thing he frolicked specializing in at Worlds.
Cross shocked the darts world when he made his debut at Palace in 2018, beating Phil Taylor 7-2 to win the title simply 11 months after turning skilled.
He has since cemented his standing as one of many world’s prime gamers and heads into the 2024/25 match as world quantity 4 within the PDC Order of Benefit and standing rankings.
Kroos has such an enormous win in a match the place he at all times performs nicely and comes into Worlds yearly as one of many prime guys individuals discuss.
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In 2018, rookie Rob Cross sensationally gained the world title by defeating Phil Taylor in his last match.
However fairly than seeing the earlier win as additional strain, Kroos prefers to see it as motivation, and if he is gained it as soon as earlier than, there isn’t any motive he cannot do it once more.
“I believe profitable issues makes an enormous distinction it doesn’t matter what, and general it is at all times good to know you’ll be able to win one thing,” Cross stated.
“As a result of whenever you haven’t carried out it, whenever you haven’t made it, otherwise you haven’t earned it, you say to your self, nicely, I want I may have earned it.
“However on the identical time, it does get irritating when you do not win once more.
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Rob Cross scored spectacular scores of 164, 160 and 110 as he defeated Ritchie Edhouse within the Grand Slam of Darts.
“So, I have been by means of a drought for about six or seven years now and I want to alter that in some unspecified time in the future.
“I believe Worlds is the toughest one for me as a result of whoever turns into the world champion doesn’t need to give it again to others, and I perceive that, however I perceive that.
“However whether or not I discover common justification or something like that, it would not even enter my mind. I am not a thinker, to be trustworthy.
“Successful a championship is at all times higher than having a championship, however on the identical time, you should not begin pondering when it comes to cash from two years in the past or a 12 months in the past, and to go on the market and defend it and have a look at it that method, it is simply additional strain.
“I am going to go on the market and I am going to most likely have a look at it as a constructive and I am going to assume to myself, OK, I gained it as soon as so I can win it once more, fairly than a damaging.
“Stress is man-made and is rarely factor, is it?”
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Rob Cross scored 156 towards Ryan Joyce within the quarter-finals of the World Darts Grand Prix.
Though Kroos would not prefer to put additional strain on himself, he’s at all times motivated within the hope of sooner or later being declared a two-time world champion.
“I believe I at all times set general objectives for myself and I need to win each sport I play as a result of clearly it is simply the mentality, however on the identical time I am simply taking it sport by sport and actually, they arrive they usually appear Comes thick and quick,” he added.
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Rob Cross knocked out Luke Littler with 88 within the first spherical of the World Darts Grand Prix.
“Sport by sport, just about simply taking a look at my nostril and simply not trying any additional.
“Contact wooden, I by no means actually had a foul sport there, I actually loved it, I liked it, it was simply a type of locations the place I walked in with all of the recollections and different stuff I had there, I Will at all times adore it right here even when I haven’t got a spot to play.
“If you wish to hit the very best darts, and when you can hit the very best darts, that is the place you need to do it.
“I need to win the entire thing and I need to be declared a two-time world champion. On the identical time, it is simply going to be one match this time, you understand, I believe it is one of many largest locations on the earth championships the place everyone improves their stage.
Cross on Littler sport: ‘He was excellent within the sport’
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What a rare dart leg! Rob Cross practically made it 9, however Luke Littler took it within the fourth set.
Cross has given darts followers some epic moments and video games as early because the 2023/24 marketing campaign, with ‘Voltage’ making his debut towards Luke Littler A semi-final was held.
Littler averaged 106.05, hit 16 prime scores, and scored scores of 149, 142, and 132 in an excellent 6-2 victory, and Cross, who was now in a position to have a look at the large image, noticed what this sport meant for the sport. How “wonderful” it’s.
“Truthfully, we’re all designed to be winners and stuff like that, however when you lose, that is not good,” Cross stated.
“However within the greater image, you understand, what this boy and Luke have completed since then is simply wonderful.
“I am not a jealous individual, staying away from the darts or trying inward. I believe I will go on the market and I am a competitor and after I’m on the market I need to win however whenever you come off the sector and I have a look at him, I simply Suppose he carried out nicely within the sport as nicely.
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Rob Cross reversed Chris Dobey from 0-4 down to finish the “Miracle of Darts”!
Whereas Cross would be the favourite once more this 12 months, there’s already loads of surprising and disturbing issues taking place within the darts world in 2024, and the world quantity 4 hasn’t dominated out extra taking place at Ally Pally risk.
“I simply assume darts now, when you took it again ten years in the past, you’d most likely choose three individuals, or when you had been beneficiant, 4 individuals who may win the match,” Cross added.
“Now swiftly, you have a look at it and, I do not know, you may need gotten a transparent 24 out of 32, and also you would possibly have the ability to write off the opposite eight.
“So, I believe it is a good factor for observers and factor for these watching at house.”
When does the World Darts Championship happen?
The match will happen at Alexandra Palace on Sunday 15 December, with three first spherical matches and one second spherical match on the opening night time.
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On Love The Darts, Michael Bridge and Polly James debate which contestants are nonetheless price fearing when competing towards them.
There shall be reside darts day by day for the subsequent eight days, together with seven afternoon periods, with a regular three-day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day earlier than a 3rd spherical and double-header on December 27 .
The third and fourth rounds shall be accomplished by New 12 months’s Eve, December 30, with the quarter-finals break up into two periods on New 12 months’s Day, adopted by the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday, January 3 .
The total schedule for this 12 months’s competitors may be discovered here.
Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match reside from December 15 to January 3, solely on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and more top sports with NOW.
