Rob Cross – 2018 Word Darts Champion
History
ROB CROSS produced the greatest fairytale in darts history.
In just 18 months he went from electrician to top of the world, beating the legendary Phil Taylor in the World Championship final at the Alexandra Palace.
Incredibly taking the top title in his first year as a professional player.
Originally an amateur qualifier at the 2016 UK Open, the Sussex-based electrician defeated Ken MacNeil, Wes Newton and Jeffrey de Graaf to reach the last 32, where it took a nine-darter and two 170 finishes from Michael van Gerwen to end his hopes.
Following that experience, Cross joined the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour and won three tournaments, reached two other finals and landed a nine-darter as his success on the second-tier tour earned him a PDC Tour Card for 2017/2018.
Cross’ transition to the professional circuit began with qualification for another UK Open before he won his first full ranking title at a Players Championship in March 2017.
Runs to three successive European Tour quarter-finals were followed by a second Players Championship victory in May before Cross made his World Matchplay debut in July.
Two further Players Championship wins followed before Cross’ quality was shown with a run to the European Championship final, where he was again denied by Van Gerwen.
The pair would clash again on the big stage during Cross’ debut run at the World Championship, but it was this time the Englishman who emerged victorious in a sudden-death leg in their classic semi-final.
Cross then defeated Phil Taylor 7-2 in sets to secure darts’ biggest prize as he crowned his incredible year by being named as World Champion.
The Hastings thrower claimed his first PDC title since being crowned World Champion at Players Championship 13 in Wigan in June 2018, beating Ian White in the final..
Cross then picked up his first televised title since winning the World Championship at the Brisbane Darts Masters, defeating Van Gerwen 11-6 in the final.
In 2019 Cross made his third major final and sixth televised final at the 2019 UK Open in Minehead. Cross was eventual runner-up at the tournament, as he lost to Nathan Aspinall.
Cross made his second televised final of the year (fourth major, seventh televised) at the Premier League. After finishing second in the league format, Cross went to the O2 in London for the Play-Offs.
He took on James Wade in the semi-final and was successful in victory. He then took on World No.1, Michael van Gerwen in the final. He eventually lost the tournament by 11-6.
He won the World Matchplay against Michael Smith by beating him 18-13 in legs.
Cross became only the fourth player to ever win the World Championship and World Matchplay (previously achieved by Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson).
On his way to the final he beat Chris Dobey, Krzysztof Ratajski, Stephen Bunting and Daryl Gurney, (from 15-9 down in the semi-finals).
Cross reached his fourth World Series Final at the 2019 Brisbane Darts Masters. He lost to winner Damon Heta in a last leg decider 8-7.
On 27 October 2019, Cross won his third major PDC title, the European Championship, beating Gerwyn Price 11-6 in the final in Göttingen, Germany.
In 2020 At the World Series of Darts Finals he beat Michael Smith and James Wade on route to the final, before eventually succumbing to Gerwyn Price.