Former World Darts Champion has no ‘God-given right’ to be a top-16 player

Rob Cross insists he has no ‘God-given right’ to be considered one of the world’s top-16 players.

Cross endured a tough 2025 season that saw him plummet down the rankings and omitted from the Premier League lineup.

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The former world champion was again in action over the weekend as he progressed past Daryl Gurney in the round-of-16 at the UK Open.

The tournament itself hasn’t been short of drama after Charlie Manby had to be dragged away from opponent James Hurrell by the referee on Friday.

Meanwhile, victory over Gurney saw ‘Voltage’ secure a major quarter-final spot for the first time in 15 months.

Cross will now face James Wade as he looks to make the semi-finals of the competition on Sunday afternoon.

The 35-year-old has admitted that no player is guaranteed a spot among the sport’s elite and that past success counts for nothing in the game.

High Voltage

“It’s important because of the Euros and other stuff, but just because I have won other things doesn’t mean I deserve to be in the top 16,” Cross said.

“I think there is a massive part of life and what we all have to remember is that I used to work for a living. 

“I used to have to get up at 4:30am and put in blood, sweat and tears five days a week. 

“When things get tough, sometimes you just have to dig in. I haven’t got a God-given right to be in the top 16. 

“No disrespect to Peter Wright for what he’s achieved in the game, or Michael Smith. They haven’t got a God-given right to be there either. 

“You’ve got to work hard, you’ve got to put everything in. Hopefully the head turns, which I think it is.”

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Luke Littler is looking to successfully defend his 2025 UK Open crown having won the tournament for the first time last year.

Littler beat Wade in the 2025 final, but has his work cut out to make the semi-finals when he takes on Dutch darts star Danny Noppert today.

Elsewhere, Krzysztof Ratajski takes on Josh Rock in the first of four quarter-final clashes on Sunday.

And it’s an all-Welsh affair for the final game of the day as Gerwyn Price takes on compatriot Jonny Clayton.