"These 16 weeks can be quite gruelling but mentally I'm ready" - Rob Cross raring to go ahead of Premier League return
PDC
Rob Cross makes his Premier League Darts return later tonight after missing the last two editions. A losing finalist in 2019, Cross begins his campaign against Peter Wright in Cardiff.
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"I feel great. The game has been in a really good place the last year. I thought it got better as the year went on," says a confident Cross in conversation with the PDC. "For me to be back in, it's all about how I feel and I feel ready to go back in so it's great to be picked again."
A four-time Premier League competitor, Cross has had mixed fortunes over the years. Reaching finals night in both his opening two seasons, 'Voltage' languished in 9th overall in 2020 and 2021. After a two-year absence though, he's raring to go once again. "These 16 weeks can be quite gruelling but mentally I'm ready," he explains.
"Those last two years I was really struggling. My game wasn't even close to competing or making finals night," Cross recalls. "But yeah, a lot different now. The game is in a lot happier and I'm in a better place. Being back there, with the boys and competing again, that's where I want to be. This time I think I could have my best run ever!"
A former world champion, Cross reached the semi-finals at Ally Pally recently and is understandably entering the Premier League with his confidence boosted as a result. "The hunger is back," he concludes. "It's the biggest non-ranked tournament. It's incredible. It wouldn't surpass the World Championships to win it but it could potentially surpass the Matchplay."
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Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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