Rob Cross interview: Life changing matches, advice for amateurs and the future stars of darts

• Follow @ChrisHammer180 on Twitter

It's almost three years to the day when Rob Cross made that life-changing decision which effectively set him on a remarkably fast accent to the very top of the game.

The Hastings man was still working as an electrician back on February 20, 2016 when he decided - after encouragement from his uncle - to make a 350-mile round trip to Norwich so he could take part in the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers for the PDC's UK Open.

He paid his small entry fee like everyone else of mixed abilities (this year it's £8 including a free drink) before battling his way through to earn a spot at the ITV4-televised major in Minehead.

There, he won three matches to get his taste of the big time at Butlin's against a certain Michael van Gerwen in front of the TV cameras as the Dutchman produced an astonishing run of brilliance by nailing a nine-dart finish inbetween of two 170 checkouts.

The invaluable experience gave Cross the motivation to join the PDC's Challenge Tour, which he dominated to earn a full PDC Tour card for 2017 and 2018 - although by his second season he'd already become the world champion thanks to that epic triumph over MVG and his crushing of Phil Taylor in the final.

While this story has been told many times by now, it is one Voltage insists he never loses sight of to this day, especially in the wake of a tough 2018 which encountered so many new experiences and pressures of being a world champion.

Almost as quickly as he'd become a sporting fairytale hero - completing his journey from humble electrician to world champion in just one year on the PDC circuit - had he grown a huge target on his back that his rivals were queuing up to hit, not to mention those critics waiting for his fortunes to change.

While Voltage did impressively reach Finals Night in his debut Premier League campaign, he 'only' won two titles last season - one of which being on TV against van Gerwen at the Brisbane Darts Masters - and his world title defence ended in the fourth round after blowing a 2-0 lead against Luke Humphries.

Cross, however, has no regrets and feels he's mentally better equipped now to lift the biggest trophies.

He told Sporting Life Darts: "Don't get me wrong, last year it was difficult and a massive life-changer with all the travelling, bigger events and pressure - but there's not one moment I look back on and regret. Maybe I didn't play my best stuff but I don't use that as a negative.

"If anything the year was a positive because it opened my eyes a lot easier and quicker than most people and that will help me for the future.

"I won't get a tougher year like the one I've just had after winning the worlds, with all the media attention too. Even if I won it again I'd be better prepared and have been a professional for longer to deal with it."

Turning point

As far as his humble beginnings at the Rileys Club in Norwich are concerned, Cross said: "I never lose sight of it but it does feel in the very distant past to be honest! It's been such a busy last few years, and 2018 felt like two years on its own compared to 2017!

"How many people get the chance to do what I've done and learn as fast as what I had to learn. If anything I'm more relaxed this year and my eyes are opened wider than the last 12 months.

"But that MVG game was incredibly important. I lost 9-5 and MVG played incredible darts but I didn't feel I'd played my best and felt I could have done more. Realistically that was the catalyst that made me think what I could achieve if I push myself even more.

"I still don't think I've hit my best yet and there's plenty more in the tank. That's what I've got to push for now."

Advice for amateurs

Cross urges anyone who feels they are capable of playing at a high level to try their luck at this weekend's final four Rileys Amateur Qualifying events.

Twelve players have already booked their spots at the UK Open in March over the past few weeks but on Saturday there are tournaments taking place in Harlow, Wolverhampton and Norwich, with the last being in Liverpool on Sunday (click here for entry details at www.rileys.co.uk/uk-open).

Andy Jenkins and Wes Newton are two of the more familiar names to have won through but a great story has emerged from Sheffield in the shape of Chris Lacey.

The 48-year-old haulage driver from Dronfield was a qualifier for last year's event, which was played behind closed doors because of the weather, but was one of the 11 unfortunate players who couldn't make it to the venue through the snow and ice!

Voltage wants all aspiring players to realise that all dreams are possible, saying: "When I used to practice and play I thought I was good and I'd watch it on the telly and think 'maybe I could do that'.

"I wasn't going to go and then I decided to at the last minute, with my uncle helping me. You never know how life can turn out - obviously I had a massive life changer when I tried it so I'd definitely advise anyone to go if they felt capable of winning.

"Take your time, compose yourself and pre yourself so you know you're ready. They're ruthless places to try and qualify from with so many people entering - it's not easy - but if you believe in yourself, anything is possible."

Stars of the future

Cross is also a mentor for 13-year-old sensation Leighton Bennett, who lit up the Lakeside last month when nailing a 121 checkout on the bullseye to clinch the BDO World Youth title.

The Lincoln star was snapped up by Nevada Sports Management - the same as Voltage - and has continued to show his rich potential by winning two Junior Darts Corporation titles this season with 90+ averages while last weekend he also scooped £2,000 in a men's tournament called the Tom Palmer Open.

That wasn't even his first senior title having also clinched the Cambridge Open aged just 12 in 2018 and Cross, 28, believes the sky's the limit for Bennett.

The world number two said: "I've never seen a 13-year-old like him. I played darts when I was 13 and I was alright but he'd have knocked spots off me at that age. He's a fantastic darts player and lovely boy - he's been brought up well with manners.

"I really do think he's going to be special - we just need to keep him focused through three years of the JDC and BDO because at that age you've still got the whole world to experience.

"He's very young but he's with a great management team in Nevada Management - the same as mine - so he's got a great opportunity to become a big name later on.

"There's no limit to his potential and I believe he can one day play professional darts in the PDC. He's playing incredible darts and is already beating men as well as boys. If he stays on the straight and narrow then his amazing ability will give him a massive chance of making it."

Cross has already earned almost £1,000,000 in prize money since becoming a professional and believes the riches of the sport today is encouraging a rising number of youngsters to take it up, meaning the standard will sky rocket further.

He said: "You can earn a good living on this tour with the large amounts of money we're playing for. You've got to treat every tournament as if it matters - from the Pro Tour events to a Premier League night - and work really hard.

"The youth players coming through are all ruthless and Leighton is one of the best I've seen. If they keep progressing as they are then in the next five years the standard of the game is going to go up and up.

"It's a great position for darts to be in. It's growing all the time and even in the past two years which I've experienced I've noticed the crowds getting bigger, the interest in the sport and its following around the world is getting bigger."

Related Darts Content

• 2019 Premier League darts fixtures
• 2019 PDC event calendar & results
• Sporting Life Darts Podcasts
• Full World Championship results
• 2018 PDC event calendar & results
• Sky Bet's darts odds