“It was like a game of tennis. You'd knock the ball back, you'd pass that test” – Rob Cross compares facing Luke Littler to peak Michael van Gerwen

Rob Cross knows better than anyone what it takes to beat an elite player on a big stage. The Englishman made history at the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship by defeating Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor back-to-back, so he understands how to make a true world‑class opponent crack under maximum pressure. According to Cross, the key against players of that calibre is not to outgun their top level, but to hang in and strike when the rare openings appear.

The debate around Luke Littler has intensified in recent months. The young Englishman has become a player who can get into opponents’ heads before the first dart is thrown. Cross recognises that feeling but stresses a match isn’t lost until the final dart has gone.

“It's all about hanging in there. You're not going to get as many chances as if you played someone else,” Cross explains. “You're going to get many more chances. It's about taking your chances and trying to send them to somewhere where they don't want to be.”

For the former world champion, that’s exactly the difference when you face a generational talent. Against players like Littler, and previously Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, one small error can have major consequences. A single missed dart at a double can see a leg slip away completely.

Cross compares playing Van Gerwen to a long tennis rally. For years, the Dutchman imposed an extremely high standard on opponents, and anyone who failed to keep pace was punished without mercy.

“I would always say that years ago, when you played Michael, he had such a threshold and it was like a game of tennis. You'd knock the ball back, you'd pass that test, he'd knock it back and then you've got to answer again,” Cross reflects.

Even so, you don’t need to throw better throughout to win a match like that. Cross points out that one good chance in a leg can be enough. That’s why it’s vital to stay upright when the opponent is firing.

“One dart sometimes is good enough in a leg to win, and if you miss it, you know, potentially it's a runaway or a freight train. So, yeah, you've got to hang on their shoulder and you've got to dig in as deep as you can.”

That mental battle, Cross says, is at least as important as what the scoreboard shows. If you can plant doubt in a favourite’s mind, you can steer a match in a different direction. As a contest heads into its decisive phase, the pressure can keep ramping up.

“Once you get past that, if you can get them maybe where they're a little bit nervous, if you can get them nervous or get them thinking.”

Cross isn’t just talking about playing the perfect match, but about creating doubt. A player who normally runs on autopilot can be forced by a tight game to consider the consequence of every dart. That, Cross believes, can be the moment a match turns.

“You can drag a bit of overtime where that game's getting a bit closer towards the end and try and pick the pieces up there,” he explains.

Timing is crucial in all of this. It’s not only about hitting doubles but about striking at the right moment. If you take your chances at the decisive time, you can turn a match even against a player throwing the higher average. “Your timing has to be good. The moment you take your chances has to be right. And you’ve got to be pretty solid on your own throw.”

Cross also looks at Littler’s recent form. At the World Matchplay in Blackpool, the young Englishman again showed how ruthless he can be. Once Littler hit his rhythm, opponents found it almost impossible to stop him.

“On the first attempt, maybe there was a chance there,” Cross analyses. “No one was living over that many legs.”

Still, Cross refuses to write off the chasing pack. He believes the coming period offers fresh opportunities for players looking to challenge Littler. The key is that not every tournament uses the same format. Where long matches allow Littler time to eventually break opponents, shorter formats can create a very different dynamic. “We're going to go into other tournaments, we're going to have shorter formats, set play comes in, and all set plays are totally different games,” Cross emphasises.

That’s where the world number 23 sees openings for the field. In a short format, you don’t have to live with Littler for as long. One strong start or a decisive burst can be enough to put the young favourite under pressure.

“I think there's chances, massive chances there for players coming up in the next few tournaments,” says Cross. At the same time, he stays realistic. If Littler strings together another long run of legs, it will be exceptionally hard to stop him.