"I’m guilty of not expressing myself to the people I trust with my own life": Rob Cross opens up on mental health struggles

Rob Cross walked off the Alexandra Palace stage relieved, reflective and more open than ever before after battling through another demanding test at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship. He defeated Ian White 3-1.

The former world champion secured his place in the next round despite admitting he was far from his best, grinding his way through a topsy-turvy contest that once again highlighted both his resilience under pressure and the mental battles he has been fighting away from the oche.

“I came out first set, gave it the beans and thought, here we go,” Cross said including to DartsNews. “Nice little three-nil, let’s tuck into him. But as the game developed, he was resistant. I didn’t really play the way I wanted to play.

“Look, I’m very grateful to sit here now, get the job done and get another chance to correct that. It’s nice to win when you’re not at your best, because if I do get my best out of it, I don’t think I’ll worry about anyone.”

The match followed a familiar pattern for Cross this season, swinging sharply between quality and frustration. A blistering opening set was followed by inconsistency, something the Englishman was keen to put into context. “I don’t actually think that sums up my season,” he explained. “In the last six months I couldn’t find a 107. I should have sent my grandmother out there to find one for me. The game is better now. I probably exerted myself in that first set more than I have in the last ten days. No excuses — it’s a pressure game. The more pressure there is, the more I say to myself, it’s now or never.”

Once again, it was Cross’s finishing that proved decisive, with a crucial 92 checkout sealing victory — following a match-winning 170 in the previous round. “That’s what I made a living off, really,” he said. “Without boasting, I think I can be one of the best finishers in the game under the cosh. You see a lot of youngsters now who can hit big scores, but if you put me within 60 or 80 points, I still fancy the leg. I can be a bit off the pace, but not too much.”

While Cross joked about defending prize money from a semi-final run two years earlier — “thanks for reminding me” — his focus was firmly on the bigger picture. "This is the pinnacle of the game,” he said. “The money doesn’t change my life. Winning this does.”

However, it was Cross’s honesty away from the darts board that made the interview resonate far beyond the match itself. For the first time publicly, he spoke in depth about his mental health struggles and revealed he had recently stopped taking medication. “I’ve suffered with that for a long, long time,” Cross admitted. “This is probably the first interview I’ve ever admitted it in. I was taking tablets because I felt low in life, like we all do. But I thought I was better off being mates with the person inside instead of trying to shut him off with no emotion. So I stopped them before I came here. I feel okay. I feel great. It brings the happiness out instead of locking everything away.”

Cross was keen to stress that his struggles are not defined by darts, success or money. “I’d have had these problems even if I wasn’t playing darts,” he said. “You could have every bit of money in the world, but if you’re not happy, you’re not happy. It’s not about objects or finances.”

He admitted he has often failed to open up, even to those closest to him. “I’m guilty of not expressing myself to the people I trust with my own life,” he said. “If you feel like that, you need to speak up. It’ll eat you away eventually.”

Family, Cross explained, has been central to helping him through that process. With Christmas approaching, the relief of winning and returning home was clear. “If I’d lost today, it would’ve been a miserable Christmas,” he laughed. “I’d have gone home and sulked like a big baby — which I am sometimes.

“But to go home tomorrow, see my kids and spend Christmas with them, it means the world. I’ve been guilty of practising and being away, but sacrifices have to be made.”

A recent visit to a children’s hospital in Germany also left a lasting impression. “When you see what other people are going through, it puts life into perspective,” Cross said. “There’s always someone dealing with something worse, and I don’t mean that badly — it just reminds you that you need to talk.”

Looking ahead in the tournament, Cross insists his focus is on enjoyment, balance and being ready when it matters most. “My game is good at the minute, even if I haven’t shown it fully,” he said. “I know it’s there. I’m going to enjoy family time, keep my practice right and come back early for the next round.

“I’m here to try and win it. If I’m just making the numbers up, I won’t play the next game — I’m not bothered. Winning this is the most important thing.”

Asked about future rankings, prize money and even Premier League selection, Cross was refreshingly blunt. “Rankings don’t matter. Other stuff doesn’t matter,” he said. “You’ve just got to be you, be real, and keep moving forward.”

As he left the stage smiling, Cross offered one final message — not just to fellow players, but to anyone listening. “We can only wear so much as human beings,” he said. “Sometimes we just need that extra hand.”