Sacrifices paying off for Cross
NEW world champion Rob Cross has revealed the sacrifices he made in his first year as a professional, including missing his daughter’s birth to play a tournament in Barnsley.
Despite being an Alexandra Palace debutantCross won the World Championship and £400,000 on New Year’s Day by beating 16time winner Phil Taylor.
It was at the start of 2017 when former electrician Cross decided to dedicate all of his time to darts and the father-of-three was 250 miles away when baby Maddison was born.
‘I saw her three times in eight weeks,’ said Cross, also father to Leyton, six, and Imogen, three. ‘I missed her birth, I was in Barnsley when she was born. It was very hard. It’s the dedication side of it. At that time, early in the year, I had to play everything. I wanted to qualify for the World Matchplay (in Blackpool).
‘I’m very fortunate in a way that my other half, Georgia, is so with me. She will push me and she was the one who actually suggested it otherwise I would have tried to be there (at the birth).
‘I wouldn’t have had time to get from Hastings to Barnsley in time to play that night. I qualified too so that helped. I managed to make some money and got to Blackpool, which was what I wanted.
‘Without my family, this would not have been possible to do what I’ve done. They support me. If I need to be away, they understand. They know I play darts for them and that is everything.’
Cross, 27, thinks he reached the last eight at the Players Championships event in Barnsley.
To become world champion on Monday, the former sparky defeated Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals before beating Taylor in the final.
‘The previous life I had has really helped me to knuckle down as a dart player,’ Cross said. ‘I don’t abuse it. That dedication is when you have mouths to feed at home. I had to get up at 4.30 in the morning to pay the bills and you know if you don’t turn up you don’t get paid.
‘I have had to work hard. I don’t like losing, even if I was playing Monopoly. I would not like losing. I would probably throw the board up in the air.
‘I only play to win darts games. I never look at the money or the bigger picture. With that notwanting-to-lose attitude, anything is possible.’
Meanwhile, retried Taylor said: ‘Is darts going to be the same? I don’t know. The game will change. If it is good, I will watch it. The rivalry between me and Barney (Raymond van Barneveld) will be like Rob Cross and Michael (van Gerwen).’
Meanwhile, Blackpool’s World Matchplay Trophy is being renamed The Phil Taylor Trophy in honour of the retired legend. Taylor’s career came to a close on New Year’s Day when he lost 7-2 to Cross. That defeat meant the 57-year-old finished on the ultimate double 16 - with 16 world titles and 16 wins in Blackpool.
Taylor’s retirement means he will not be by the seaside later this year to defend the World Matchplay title he won in 2017.