Voltage’s 4 Year Pro Career: The Story So Far

At the 2016 UK Open, Voltage was still an amateur. The former electrician made it to the 4th round, but lost to van Gerwen via a 9-dart finish. Despite the loss, the Englishman made a big impression. At the time Voltage was a well-respected amateur on the circuit, and during the UK Open he showed that he was finally ready to enter the pro ranks.

Cross won 3 of the 16 events in the 2017 PDC Challenge Tour. He also earned the Tour's Order of Merit, and with it a Tour Card for the 2017 PDC Pro Tour. In 2017, Voltage proved he belonged on the Pro Tour. He registered 4 Players Championship wins, and several runner-up finishes. By the end of the season, Voltage had finally broken into the top 32 in the PDC rankings.

In 2018, Voltage became world champion. He won his World Championship debut by beating the legendary Phil Taylor in the final. Along the way, Voltage also beat van Gerwen. This particular accomplishment made him only the 10th player ever to win the World Championship at the very first attempt. Later that year he added a 5th Players Championship and his first World Series event win (the Brisbane Darts Masters).

This year, Cross has continued to win tournaments. His crowning moment came in July, when he won the World Matchplay. It was a sweet victory for the 29-year-old. And it was made even sweeter by how he won it. bwin Dart’s World Matchplay Final Preview details how Voltage got to the deciding match in the most improbable of ways. He was trailing world number 3 Daryl Gurney, 7-14, in the semi final. In other words, he needed to a massive comeback to reach the final. Fortunately, he managed to fight back from 7 down to win 17-15.

In the final, Cross was the favourite, and he certainly delivered. The Sussex Express notes how Cross built an early 9-1 lead. Thomas staged his own rally but Voltage was steady under pressure, and ultimately put away Thomas 18-13. Cross' World Matchplay conquest put him in elite company. He joined Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson as the only players to win a world title and the World Matchplay.

Wayne Mardle discussed the ‘Cross Conundrum’, stating, "I still feel the same with Rob. I think he’s playing some of the best darts of anyone out there — but doesn’t win enough." It is perplexing to say the least. As this month the ‘Cross Conundrum’ was on full display again, this time at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. In the third round Voltage fell behind early to Gerwyn Price 5-2. Voltage tied the match 5-5, only to lose the deciding set. While the ‘Cross Conundrum’ seems to be an obvious issue, it begs the question, how successful could he be if

he really starts to perform consistently on the PDC circuit? There isn’t a darts pundit out there that doesn’t respect Voltage’s ability, it is just perplexing that he isn’t delivering on that promise on a regular basis, just yet.