Cross keen to continue unbeaten start after proving a cut above in Glasgow
Cross proved a cut above in Glasgow last week (credit:Taylor Lanning)
Rob Cross has revealed he is struck by a bizarre curse of slashing his head each time he visits Scotland.
The 2018 World Champion has twice been left with blood pouring down his scalp on his last two trips north of the border.
But despite his close shaves, he is back to his razor-sharp best on the oche after making a fine start to the 2019 Unibet Premier League.
“I don’t know what it is about Scotland but every time I am up here I slash my head open!” Cross told Live Darts.
“I was up in Ardrossan for an exhibition in December and just caught my head badly with the razor and when I looked in the mirror it looked like a scene from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!
“I frightened the life out of my manager Jon Archer, he thought I’d been in a bar brawl and we’d only been in Scotland a few hours.
“Then just a couple of hours before my match against James Wade at The Hydro on Thursday night I did exactly the same thing. There was blood everywhere.
“I mean, I’ve given blood, sweat and tears to darts but that’s taking it too far. Thankfully we managed to patch it up before the match.
“The strange thing is that I keep winning after I’ve cut my head open. Either I need to get sponsored by Gillette and get better razors or maybe just stick to the weirdest superstition ever.”
Cross, 28, has picked up three points in his opening two Unibet Premier clashes against Peter Wright and James Wade.
He now prepares to put his unbeaten start on the line against Dutch nemesis Michael van Gerwen in Dublin on Thursday and has spoken of his relief of playing without pressure.
“To be honest I have been through hell over the past few months. The constant expectation of being World Champion was a lot to take on,” added Cross.
“The likes of Michael and Gary Anderson have been at the top for a decade so being World Champion and the pressure that comes with it, I think they were ready for it.
“I certainly wasn’t ready. I was thrust into the spotlight which was great but by the end of 2018 I was absolutely exhausted, I’d lost my spark.
“I feel fresh now and like my old self again, I’m enjoying life and hopefully I can just keep improving again.
“Michael is on a high right now, he sets the standards. I’m looking forward to giving it my best shot.”
