CROSS DEDICATES WORLDS WIN TO HOSPITALISED MANAGER

By Phil Lanning

ROB CROSS dedicated his opening Worlds win to hospitalised manager Rab Bain.

The 2018 World Champ romped to a 3-0 win over Cor Dekker, finishing in style with a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout at Alexandra Palace.

Cross, 35, has had a tough year going through bankruptcy and his boss Bain missed his first clash at the Ally Pally as he underwent emergency treatment.

The darts star revealed: “Yeah I missed Rab today. I think it’s the first time he’d ever missed anything with me when he said he’s going to come. I missed his voice today.

“Especially being the World Championship. But thankfully he’s all well and that’s the most important thing.

“It’s his business to talk about his health. But all I can say is that I love him like a father.

“I’m very appreciative of him. He’s OK and that’s all I’m willing to say on that.

“He’s a big thing in my life and I’ll always love him.”

Cross reached the semis two years ago, losing to Luke Littler, but insists he can go all the way again.

He added: “If I can speak truthfully I believe I can win another one.

“I’ve really turned the corner in three weeks. I’ve really put the work in.

“My nan hasn’t been well, she’s had pneumonia, she’s been in hospital. She’s better now so I’m grateful of that. She got out today to watch me.

“It’s the lightest I’ve ever travelled to the Ally Pally. No manager, no missus, no boy. They are all at home at the minute.

“I’ve given myself up for three weeks, it’s just me. That’s all I’ve done.

“I need to go back to work. I need to put my best foot forward. No doubt about that, physically and mentally.

“I turned up today and it’s the best I’ve felt in seven or eight months.

“I want to get myself back in the mix, back in the conversation and play the way I can play. That’s the most important thing.

“You can’t win any tournament if you go into it and you’re not right. It’s important to be right.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.