"It is all my fault": Rob Cross refuses to let well documented financial issues be an excuse for darting slump

As the darts circus gears up for the 2026 World Darts Championship, attention traditionally turns back to the big names. One of them is Rob Cross, former world champion and always a player who can be dangerous on the big stage – regardless of his form. In conversation with Online Darts, he candidly looked ahead to the tournament while reflecting on a tough year both on and off the stage.

Cross begins the conversation optimistically. His recent results were “form ain't been great,” he admits candidly, but the World Championship remains an event that automatically fuels the fire.

“My form ain’t been great but look, how can you not get excited to go and play the World Championships? Biggest stage, sort of biggest tournament in the year, you know. I’ll be ready, sort of ready to go," he said to Online Darts.

Still, the question arises: how do you turn bad form around with the biggest tournament of the year approaching?

“It’s nice to have form when you walk into anything, but the amount of things I’ve won when I’ve been out of form… it’s not really important to a certain degree. I think it’s how my prep goes in the next two weeks.”

What stands out in Cross' preparation is his new physical approach. The Englishman can now be found in the gym daily.

“I’m in the gym every day at the minute, lifting a few weights and trying to build my core up, get my throw a little bit stronger. Over the last three or four months my throw’s been a bit flimsy. I’ve done three weeks now – I thought I was going to die the first week – but now I feel stronger and they’re hitting the board with a bit more authority.”

Missing the Grand Slam for the first time helped trigger that change.

“Yeah, it hurt because it’s the first time I’ve not made it. But maybe at the same time it’s given me time to reflect, have a look at stuff and think how I go forward. I didn’t pick a dart up for the first week – I couldn’t lift my arm – but now I’m doing that and gearing up for the big one.”

Earlier this season, Cross opened up about private difficulties, but he does not believe they caused his recent dip.

“I’ve had it for a long time. It’s more that get up and go. Sometimes I’ve walked into tournaments… not that I’m not enjoying the game, but I just turn up. I’m not practising and if I haven’t picked a dart up for six or seven days, it can be disastrous.”

He is brutally honest about responsibility: “It is all my fault. I’ve not put the work in and I’ve not done the time. But I’m working on it. I don’t have a problem with this game if I want to do it.”

Cross has slipped in the rankings and may even face Euro Tour qualifiers again – but he remains unfazed.

“The way it stands, I’m going back to qualifiers. It just is what it is. I’ve been lucky for eight years that my ranking’s always been half decent. If I get it right, I won’t have to worry again.”

On the rankings themselves, he is clear: “I’m not really hung up on rankings. There’s only one spot that really matters – that’s number one. The rest you fill gaps. If I have to go back to qualifiers then so be it. I’m not worried.”

And on the future: “If I do change it around then I’ll be back fine – back in the top 10 easy by two years.”

With the world champion now earning £1,000,000, the stakes have never been higher. But does that change anything for Cross?

“I’ve never thrown a dart thinking about the money. Even when I won it all them years ago, I never thought about the money. That’s just extra pressure. I throw to win – that’s the most important bit.”

He recalls Barry Hearn’s long-time ambition: “I can remember hearing it in 2017–18 when I became world champion. You wonder if it’s really going to get there, but fair play – they’ve done a number getting it there. It’s brilliant. It’s already a spectacle, now it’s even more of a spectacle.”

Many players rewatch their best matches for motivation, but not Cross. “I’m not really like that. But people send me stuff. After a bad one at Minehead, my mate sent me a video and said, ‘Need to get back to this, son.’ And he’s spot on. The desire and hunger have to be there.”

His throw isn’t the issue: “Darts isn’t my problem. I can throw a dart. I just need to be more infused.”

With that in mind: “I’m going to work my socks off for the next two weeks and I guarantee I’ll get a tune out of myself.”

A striking admission comes when Cross explains that he may have spent too much time with his family, which impacted his rhythm. "I need to stop being lazy. I’ve had great times with my family, seeing my kids. But I’m stubborn. I want to do a little bit more there and a little bit more there. I worked it out – in two months I picked them up three or four times. That’s massive.”

He walked into the Matchplay expecting things to click: “I walked straight into a Matchplay thinking everything’s going to be alright but it obviously wasn’t.”

He finishes with honesty: "You live and learn by your mistakes, and it has to improve.”