Rob Cross scored his best-ever win at the World Grand Prix on Monday as Voltage eliminated pre-tournament favourite, Luke Littler.
Cross needed a bit of luck to get over the line against The Nuke as Littler squandered a golden chance to take out 81 in a vital leg, much to the chagrin of Wayne Mardle.
Speaking to Online Darts after the game, Cross discussed his training regime heading into this match, and he revealed that he’s undertaken an interesting new approach.
Indeed, Cross says that he’s actually not been playing darts between events recently, claiming that he actually hadn’t picked up a set of tungsten between the last Pro Tour event and the World Grand Prix.
Rob Cross reveals new training regime
Cross spoke about his new approach to these major tournaments.
“I didn’t practice. I haven’t picked a dart up since the Pro Tours last week,” Cross said.
“You have to do the Pro Tours as we keep mentioning to get the ranking points, but I haven’t picked a dart up pretty much all year, this new regime.
“Someone said to me earlier ‘how do you think you’ll do?’ And I said I just want to find it. If I can find it I’m in the game and I can produce good legs. It feels a bit alien, it always does, but it was nice to hit some trebles and doubles.
“Nice to get a win in general because it’s not my favourite tournament in the world.“
Rob Cross’ record at the World Grand Prix
Cross upset the form book with a win against Littler at the Grand Prix, because, as the former world champion alludes to, this isn’t his favourite tournament.
The double in, double out format really doesn’t seem to suit the four-time major winner.
Cross has fallen at the first hurdle in this tournament no fewer than five times, while he’s only ever won two games on the Grand Prix stage before – against Mensur Suljovic in 2019 and against Peter Wright in 2021.
Now, Littler’s name has been added to that list, and after averaging just shy of 92 in this match, Cross will be hoping to kick on.
Cross now has a relatively kind run to the semi-finals as he faces world number 23 Martin Schindler in the next round, while Ryan Joyce or the injury-plagued Nathan Aspinall would await in the quarter-finals.
This could finally be the year Cross makes a serious run at the World Grand Prix.