“It’s tough – but I’m not going to cry about it” – Rob Cross puts pride aside after going from top 16 to European Tour qualifying

Rob Cross sealed a 6-3 win to set up a final day tie as he saw off William O'Connor to reach the third round and he has taken stock on losing opportunities and having to go through qualifying now.

Seeing off O'Connor, he is in a good place as he spoke to DartsNews post-match about his current life and darting predicament as he faces not qualifying for certain tournaments. Albeit he is chill on the whole situation, saying that if he doesn't deserve to be there, he won't be, as he moves on in Austria.

"I felt really good on the practice board. I probably have done for maybe a month now. I’ve been working hard, I must say that. If you can’t get results, it’s difficult, but I’ve had some great performances on the ProTours and I think they’ve helped me," said Cross to DartsNews.

"Today, I had a couple of legs off there and Willie was probably the better player through the early stages, but I picked legs up. Credit to myself, I dug in. When I got away with one, I put an 11-darter in the next leg and that’s what darts is about. You go on and get the wins. So I’m really happy just to get the win."

Producing some good floor numbers with ton plus averages and deep runs, Cross is feeling good about his game and isn't too downtrodden despite the fact that he is not qualified fully for everything yet.

"I’m feeling a lot better. Last year, I was very, very lazy with the game. I never put enough in and that’s my own fault, no one else’s. I take responsibility for that.

"This year, maybe even around the Worlds, I tried to hit a switch. I tried to get myself where I wanted to be and where I know I can win. I had a pretty good Worlds considering where things were at. This year, I’m putting more hours in and I’m more focused on the job. I need to do that because around the corner we’ve got big tournaments coming up. At the minute I’m missing out, but that’s fine. If I keep doing what I’m doing and play how I know I can, I think I’ll get into everything."

But also for Cross, he has also stumbled across a new system he has been using. He has switched to K-Flex flights and said it was a pure accident. "Well, it was actually a complete mistake how I ended up with them. I went down south and had a practice session with a friend of mine for a couple of days. He’s one of those players who tries everything — another Peter Wright behind the scenes.

"I picked them up and they’re a medium setup now instead of an intermediate. I’ve thrown with them ever since and I can’t really see myself changing because of how straight they sit now. There’s no lag in the dart, I’ve got loads of power in it and I can reach tops better. There are loads of positives. I wouldn’t say I’m fully used to them yet, so there’s still more work to do and more time to spend with them, but I can’t really see myself going back. The way they fly and the way they hit the board, the dart goes dead straight.

"With my old setup, the point would land left and the flight would go right, so there was a lag in the dart. I made a living out of them, but I thought, “Let’s try and get them going straight for once. They’re a great setup and they work for me. I think I’ve missed four nine-darters with them this year and I’ve also hit one, so they’re going really well. I’m seeing some really great stuff behind the scenes, probably even better than what I’m showing here. But you’ve got to work hard and darts is a confidence game. If you haven’t got confidence, sometimes you just have to make do, which I did today."

Cross, though, after well-mooted personal issues, is on more of an even keel nowadays and said that he has tried to get his mind more on darts over everything going on in his personal life "I feel a lot, lot better. I’m getting out there, I’m working harder and my mind is more on the job.

"I think over a four-month spell last year, I maybe only played four or five days, off the top of my head. So I was basically walking into matches cold. Then after those four months, you try and hit a switch and suddenly play well, but it’s just not there. At least now I’m doing the right things to give myself the best opportunities. If it clicks behind the scenes, then I think I’ve got a great chance this weekend to do really well and go far, if not win it.

But also he spoke about having to qualify now and that he has to put aside his pride and do his best when the opportunities aren't handed to him anymore.

"Look, I’m used to the opening game anyway. Whether you’re seeded or not, there’s pressure because nobody wants to lose ranking money. For the seeded players, there’s probably even more pressure because if they lose early, they don’t pick up the guaranteed money. Everyone works so hard for these spots, whether you’re in the top 16, top 32 or wherever you are.

"When you’re not getting ranking money, it’s tough, but I’m not going to cry about it. I understand they can’t just give too many opportunities away. Sometimes you’ve just got to put your big boy pants on and carry on. Personally, that’s what I’m doing. I’m working hard and as long as I’m doing that, that’s the main thing for me at the minute. I’m never going to get better by doing what I did last year, so everything is heading in the right direction. That’s all I’m interested in right now, head down and just keep moving forward."