“I haven't got a God-given right to be in the top 16” – Rob Cross draws comparisons to Peter Wright and Michael Smith as he looks to climb rankings

After a difficult spell, Rob Cross appears to have refound his form and, above all, his enjoyment of the game. At the UK Open, the former world champion produced strong performances and booked his place on the tournament’s final day. According to Cross, the difference from recent months is mainly mental.

Cross reached the quarterfinals of the UK Open thanks to a 10-6 win over Daryl Gurney, admitting that this was the most comfortable he has felt on the oche for some time now. "I think so. Look, you’ve got to think logically. I won a couple of Players Championship tournaments last year, but since then it’s been a bit of an uphill strugglee,” the Englishman said after his victory.

Although Cross still managed to win a few floor events last year, he then struggled to deliver consistent results. He says fatigue and pressure played a part. “When you’re a bit overweight it really takes its toll going uphill,” he joked. “In all seriousness, I turned up this week and I’ve enjoyed it.”

During his matches at the UK Open, Cross noticed that his level was sometimes already good, but he didn’t always reward himself on the doubles. “In the middle period of the games I probably could have taken them away earlier,” he analysed. “I did it with Van Veen the other day—I’m trying to get the days right—but I seemed to miss a few doubles. I did the same with Mike De Decker today in the middle of the game."

The tie with Daryl Gurney could also have been settled earlier. “I thought I was going to go in 5–0. He missed a load of darts and I thought, “Happy days,” and it ended up 6–4. Credit to him though—he’s a top man."

According to Cross, the key change isn’t so much technical as it is mental. He has made several adjustments behind the scenes. “I’ve changed a lot at home,” he said. “I’m under a new little regime and I’m working hard behind the scenes mentally."

That approach appears to be paying off. “I feel a little bit lighter going into matches,” Cross said. “It’s helping me greatly actually. I feel better. I feel like I haven’t got a load on my head every single day of the week—let alone darts. Sometimes it’s just life.”

One of the biggest changes, he says, is that he reacts much calmer when things go wrong. “I’d say I’m a lot calmer. That’s just the way the game is. If you miss three or six darts at a double, just suck it up and keep going," he explained.

That composure makes a big difference, he believes. “"Don’t worry about it—just keep yourself smooth and relaxed. That’s what it’s all about this week."

While Cross is optimistic about his current form, he realises the road back to the absolute elite will take time. The former winner of both the World Championship and the World Matchplay wants to stay realistic. “I understand it’s not going to be a quick fix,” he said. “What I’m doing now is already planned through to the end of the year.”

In practice he already sees flashes of his old peak level on a regular basis. “I still maintain I’ve got the game anyway. I see it when I’m practising—I see little bursts and great things. But we’ve all got to understand that sometimes Rome wasn’t built in a day."

What may be even more important to Cross than results is that the enjoyment has returned. “I’ve been celebrating again—I’ve been doing the fist pumps and everything,” he laughed.

That energy also helps him in tough matches. “At the same time, it’s about enjoying the scrap and coming out on top. I think I’ve scrapped well so far and I’m just getting that backbone back."

According to Cross, self-belief is essential. “You never lose how to play darts—how to hit 180s or big finishes. But if your wires are crossed upstairs then it’s never really going to come out properly."

A possible UK Open title could give Cross a hefty jump in the world rankings, potentially even towards the top sixteen. Still, he believes players have to earn that position. “I haven't got a God-given right to be in the top 16,” he said plainly.

He also pointed to other top players such as Peter Wright and Michael Smith. “No disrespect, Peter Wright, for what he's achieved in the game. Michael Smith, I ain't got a God-given right to be there either. Just because of what I’ve won doesn’t mean I deserve to be in the top 16. You have to work hard for it every single week.”

To keep himself motivated, Cross sometimes thinks back to his life before becoming a professional darts player. “I used to go to work for a living. I used to get up at half past four and work my socks off."

Cross also sees that the competition in darts is getting stronger. Young players in particular, such as Gian van Veen, are making an impression. “There are so many new players coming through now and they’re fantastic. Gian van Veen, for example—he didn’t quite play to his capability the other day."

According to Cross, matches like these also give him extra confidence. “He’s a great player. That win gave me a lot of confidence."

The UK Open is known for its long match days, something Cross also experienced firsthand. "It adds up to ten or eleven hours and you’ve got to stay focused—and make sure you sleep properly, which can be my Achilles heel sometimes” he said.

At one point he even made a small mistake in his preparation. “I actually decided to get a McDonald’s today—I probably shouldn’t even be advertising that! I swear a chicken nugget got stuck and I’ve felt full ever since."

Although he felt a bit sluggish at the start, his energy returned later on. “I felt a bit sluggish for the first hour. I gave myself two hours to get ready and thankfully in the last hour I felt alright again."

This season Cross is absent from the Premier League Darts. He believes that was a logical decision. “I didn’t deserve the Premier League—I didn’t play well enough,” he said frankly.

Still, he also sees an upside. “this year it’s probably helped me. If I’d been in it, I couldn’t have done everything I’m doing now because I’d be spreading myself too thin."

As a result, he can steadily build a new foundation this year. “It gives me nine months to work on things and try to get some decent results."

After a difficult period, Cross seems to be slowly finding the right direction again. With a renewed mental focus, more calm in his head, and visible enjoyment on stage, he is optimistic about the future. “I’ve definitely turned a corner this week," he concluded. "I’ve enjoyed being back on stage in front of the fans. That’s what it’s all about."

And if the chances present themselves? “Then I’ll take them.”