CROSS FIRES TOP 10 WARNING AFTER "JOB SEEKERS ALLOWANCE" JOKE

ROB CROSS admitted he would have been better off on "job seekers allowance" last season as he vowed to return to the top 10.

The world No22 endured the first campaign of his career without reaching a televised major quarter-final in 2025 but has responded strongly this year.

Cross, 35, has reached the final of the Slovak Darts Open, won a Players Championship title and reached the quarter-finals of the UK Open.

Voltage also delivered a clinical World Matchplay performance by thrashing Danny Noppert 10-3 with a 97.41 average to set up a second-round clash with Gerwyn Price.

Cross dismissed suggestions he had been overlooked heading into the Winter Gardens and insists he is ready to force his way back among darts' elite.

He said: “No, not at all. You are looking at a 22-ranked player overlooked. I think I maybe would have done better on job seekers allowance personally.

“I have not played well for a long time. I’ve not been involved.

“I was blessed last year. I didn’t play the darts but still got the Premier League.

“I wouldn’t say that was a disaster. I had some decent averages in there.

“I played the World Series, it didn’t work out.

“The difference is if you are buzzing and playing well you are wanted up the top end of the game.

“If you are not then you need to do more practice in. You need to do the right things and try and get yourself back.”

The former world champion has faced challenges away from darts, including his split from wife Georgia earlier this year.

But Cross believes he is now in the right frame of mind to climb back up the rankings.

He added: “For the last three months I have been really focused on what I have wanted.

“The first agenda was to make the Matchplay which I have.

“There aren’t that many people in the world that can do what I can do. There are a lot of quality players that missed out this time.

“They couldn’t do that. I feel blessed. I will be back in top 10 by the end of the year. That’s that.

“The problem is Bobby is a psychopath. That is why he has never dealt with the game.

“But when the mind is right I can do what I want. I will prove that.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning