"It's very hard to replicate, to get your form and to get that match practice": Cross explains 'stupid' Masters comment after Anderson win

Rob Cross produced an utterly incredible 112 average to book his place in the Quarter-Finals of the 2023 Masters with Gary Anderson hitting 111 and hardly getting a look in.

Pre tournament, Cross called the Masters a 'stupid tournament' and speaking afterwards stands by those comments.

"I'm going to clear it up now. Why I called the Masters a stupid tournament is because you look at it, you've got eight players who play all the time through January. I've never had that before, I knew I'd be brighter at the Masters as soon as I played through January. But these boys have had a month off, it is a stupid tournament because it's very hard to replicate, to get your form and to get that match practice what you need.

"When you're match sharp there's a massive difference to when you're just practicing so look this week anyone can win it and you never know what's coming but that's what the Masters is all about because your big boys they ain't been playing as much, they're not used to it. They've had a month off, it's hard."

As well as standing by his stance on the Premier League after being snubbed for the 2022 line-up. "I'm not in, I don't know why you keep asking me. I'm enjoying darts. I'm in a really good place, I have to admit my back is better this week. I've had a scan and know nothing is broken. I've struggled for the last two weeks in the later part in Bahrain and Copenhagen. I'm playing some great darts and enjoying it again but maybe for me, the Premier League I'm not ready for."