"He motivated me when he started giving it": Rob Cross given fuel to the fire after doubling delight in Wolverhampton

Rob Cross ended the night as the only big name who was playing to move through to the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts on what again was a barren night for the seeds.

Cross saw off Ritchie Edhouse 10-5 in a superb tie between the pair. But it was the sheer brilliance on the outer ring from Cross that proved deadly. He hit 10/12 on the doubles and a trio of ton plus checkouts as he hit form at the right time.

With many of the top names heading out, Cross usually flourishes on the latter stage environment and will look to again this time.

"I love it, absolutely love it. The emotion that's bore through me tonight was one of the best all year really," said Cross post match.

"I never really slept the best last night and I come into the game and I knew I needed to concentrate tonight. I managed to get that out. I think he motivated me the first five legs you know when he started giving it. He hit the 164 then he did and I kept bouncing from there. I could collapse now."

"I need to do what I need to do and carry on. I felt it tonight, it was great. It was good to have it back."

Next up is Martin Lukeman who defeated Cross in the group but he said it has little bearing on their future contest praising 'Smash' for his performance.

"Martin's a great player. He played well, he deserved to win. I watched the game in the back room, for me I suppose I've just got to go up there and make sure I'm better. But if I'm not, it's good."

He also had some words of encouragement for Edhouse in what is his first tournament since dramatically becoming a major champion recently.

"He's had his best year by far and he's not going to go away overnight. I really like the fella I think he's great. His wife's great Tara, for me that's sometimes just a bit of a learning curve. We're always going to get knocked back. I had thousands after I won the World Championship. It's all about being professional and he's going to get that aspect. When he gets that, if he keeps with that game he's not going to be a million miles away every week."

Whilst also saying that he has to now carry the mantle with the big boys gone and it is down to him to prove everyone right or wrong.

“I think it’s fair to say there’s a lot of the big players who haven’t really performed. If I had picked three games tonight, I would have looked at them going the other way. It's testament to the boys, they're working hard and playing hard and that's where you end up. It’s down to me to be different. It's down to me to go out to perform.