Latest news with #RobCross
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rob Cross makes major lifestyle change as he goes on the hunt to take Luke Littler's crown
Former World champion on fitness push to try and win the Worlds again Driven Rob Cross has kicked a new exercise regime into top gear as he fights to get back to the summit and win a second World title. The 2018 PDC darts king is determined to have a strong second-half of the year after a up-and-down start to 2025. Cross says he has to do the graft on and off the board and is working on a fitness plan to help him reach peak performance in his quest to regain the title held by Luke Littler. He explained: 'At the minute, I've been on a diet and trying to take a little bit of weight off and I feel like I've put too much weight on and they're long days and you can be somewhere for 12 hours in a day, so I've got a bit of exercise in and lost a bit of weight. I want to freshen up and get the best out of myself going forward when I return. 'It's an exciting time and it's a crest of a wave if you get a bit of form from September onwards because you have four months of a build-up towards the World Championship and, if I could have anything in life, I would have the world title again. It's the best thing in the game, the pinnacle of the sport and it is what everyone wants. You have to feel blessed to have it but I want to win it again. 'I want to 100 per cent win tournaments. Don't get me wrong, it's great to make a Final, but it sucks being second best. At the same time, it's good to be in the mix but I want to get my game up and be in the mix of everything I play. I can sometimes have a bad game but if I can get that out and feel like I can turn up and win the tournament then that's where I want to be, but winning tournaments is the main goal.' Cross' next big target is the World MatchPlay, which he won in 2019, as he recovers from the gruelling stretch of the Premier League. He said: 'I thought I started playing strong. It was a shame, whether it was energy levels or other things, I'm not sure but for whatever reason, I couldn't win to get to the semi-finals especially when I had a few chances but I thoroughly enjoyed the Premier League. It's a little bit ropey when you know you're out and you have to jump through hoops where I don't think my body's going to fit through that. I really enjoyed it and believe I played really well at times. 'But if you don't get results and don't take your chances then it's very limited and you may only get one double in a game, and it has to go in. For me, there were a few chances in games where I could've got a few more points and took the pressure off myself and then I would've been a lot closer and not feeling the burden in week 10 or 11. That's my own fault. 'But, going forward since finishing the Premier League, I'm nice and refreshed. I've had a bit of time off with the family and I just want to get the head down now and get ready for the Matchplay next month. I'm trying to implement a new set of darts right now and it's unusual for me to change but I really like these darts. It's all positive. 'I never picked up my darts for nearly two-and-a-half weeks, maybe three weeks, before Copenhagen, so I've just been trying to freshen up and get myself back to where I want to get to by starting to feel fresh again. 'Especially from September that's where all of the big TV tournaments start and for the Matchplay being around the corner in July, the ambition is to win a second one of them. You have to do it and feel good in yourself.'
The Irish Sun
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘What a feeling' – Topless Steve Bunting copies Luke Littler as he sleeps with Nordic Darts Masters Trophy
STEPHEN BUNTING is going global as he tries to prove his Premier League flop was a one-off. The Bullet, 40, picked up a second World Series of Darts title this year on Saturday night as he beat Rob Cross 8-4 in the final in Copenhagen. 2 Stephen Bunting won the Nordic Darts Masters on Saturday in Copenhagen Credit: PA 2 The 40-year-old took his trophy to his hotel room after beating Rob Cross in the final Credit: X The 40-year-old He wrote on X: "Good morning Copenhagen! What a great feeling waking up along side this beauty." Bunting's performances were a contrast to the misery he had endured during the 17-week Prem where he READ MORE ON DARTS Finishing bottom of the eight-man table would have rocked the confidence of lesser men. But the St Helens thrower – whose Trips to New York, Poland, Australia and New Zealand this summer could consolidate his position at the top of the rankings for this invitational series. He said: "Listen, in the Premier League, you're playing the best players in the world. Most read in Darts BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "For whatever reason, it just didn't happen for me. I said to my management and family, I won't lose heart. I still believe. "I put in some really good performances. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. Premier League Darts star Stephen Bunting 'moonlighting as Rangers steward' as incredible Ibrox doppelganger spotted "It was a long time since I had been in the Premier League, 10 years in fact, and it was like going back to a new school this year. I was proud of myself towards the end. "I have shown how good I can be, especially on the World Series. "I believe I am consistent. My doubles have let me down in the last two months. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I know how good I can be. It's dog-eat-dog out there. I'm glad to be up there in the rankings. "These aren't ranked tournaments. I will take these wins. It's all about gaining confidence, it's like a snowball effect. "Hopefully this can rub off in the likes of the World Matchplay and other ProTours. I am looking forward to the rest of the season. "When I went out in the arena, I saw the scarves, the shirts, the 'Bunting Mental' hats and cheers and chants. "It was a great venue. The crowd rooted for me and got me through my games."
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘What a feeling' – Topless Steve Bunting copies Luke Littler as he sleeps with Nordic Darts Masters Trophy
STEPHEN BUNTING is going global as he tries to prove his Premier League flop was a one-off. The Bullet, 40, picked up a second World Series of Darts title this year on Saturday night as he beat Rob Cross 8-4 in the final in Copenhagen. 2 2 Bunting, ranked fourth in the world, slept with the Nordic Darts Masters trophy in his hotel room before catching a flight home to the UK. The 40-year-old channelled his inner-Lionel Messi as he posted a cheeky topless snap of him cuddling up with the gong - just like rival Luke Littler. He wrote on X: "Good morning Copenhagen! What a great feeling waking up along side this beauty." Bunting's performances were a contrast to the misery he had endured during the 17-week Prem where he suffered 12 first-round losses. Finishing bottom of the eight-man table would have rocked the confidence of lesser men. But the St Helens thrower – whose 'Bunting Mental' shtick is growing around the world – has always believed he can cope with the elite in knockout events. Trips to New York, Poland, Australia and New Zealand this summer could consolidate his position at the top of the rankings for this invitational series. He said: "Listen, in the Premier League, you're playing the best players in the world. "For whatever reason, it just didn't happen for me. I said to my management and family, I won't lose heart. I still believe. "I put in some really good performances. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. Premier League Darts star Stephen Bunting 'moonlighting as Rangers steward' as incredible Ibrox doppelganger spotted "It was a long time since I had been in the Premier League, 10 years in fact, and it was like going back to a new school this year. I was proud of myself towards the end. "I have shown how good I can be, especially on the World Series. "I believe I am consistent. My doubles have let me down in the last two months. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I know how good I can be. It's dog-eat-dog out there. I'm glad to be up there in the rankings. "These aren't ranked tournaments. I will take these wins. It's all about gaining confidence, it's like a snowball effect. "Hopefully this can rub off in the likes of the World Matchplay and other ProTours. I am looking forward to the rest of the season. "When I went out in the arena, I saw the scarves, the shirts, the 'Bunting Mental' hats and cheers and chants. "It was a great venue. The crowd rooted for me and got me through my games."
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Not good enough' – Darts star Gerwyn Price announces plan for retirement as he faces ‘more and more' demands on tour
GERWYN PRICE claims he has plenty left in the tank - but won't be content until he's world champion again. The 40-year-old won the PDC's biggest prize back in 2021. 2 2 Price proved himself king of the oche as he downed rival Gary Anderson 7-3 four years ago. But he hasn't made it past the quarter-finals at Ally Pally since. Gezzy was KO'd in the final four of the Nordic Darts Masters by Rob Cross on Saturday. It followed a successful Premier League campaign for the Welshman, reaching the finals at London's O2. Price claims he is more than happy to keep competing for the next decade at least. And he's made sure to put to bed any lingering questions of retirement. Price told talkSPORT: "I'm sticking around for the next 10 years. "I mean, one World Championship, it's not good enough." Price turned pro in 2012 after picking darts over rugby. He's been the winner of seven major PDC titles - but admits as time goes on, he may be forced to pick and choose events. Gerwyn Price reveals darts rival who rattled him most and it led to awkward moment on stage The Iceman continued: "I would never give up totally. "But the Pro Tours and Europeans, depending on how many it's going to be at that time, because it's getting more and more every year, but I'll stop doing those. "I would never give my Tour Card up. I'd still do events and if they invite me to the Premier League and World Series, I'll still do them. "But none of the lower events and just stop the travelling." Darts' hectic pro schedule has become a major talking point among the sport's elite. Nathan Aspinall recently branded the calendar "absolutely obscene". The Asp fumed: "For us to take a weekend off, I have to pull out events. "So I'm losing ranking money because I just need a few days off. "And I've done that over the last couple of weeks because I was in a tight position in the Premier League, I really wanted to make the playoffs."
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Nordic Darts Masters 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Bunting BEATS Cross in epic final, Luke Littler dumped OUT at quarters stage
STEPHEN BUNTING has WON the Nordic Darts Masters 2025 after beating Rob Cross in an epic final. The Bullet overcame Jonny Clayton and Nathan Aspinall before dismantling Rob Cross 8-4 in the showpiece match to end a nine-game consecutive loss streak. As for Luke Littler, the teen sensation got his tournament debut off to the perfect start. But he ultimately suffered a damaging quarter-final defeat to Nathan Aspinall. Bunting now gets to take home a nice pot of prize money for his troubles. 21 minutes ago By Nyle Smith Run out of Luk As for Luke Littler, the teen sensation got his tournament debut off to the perfect start. But he ultimately suffered a damaging quarter-final defeat to Nathan Aspinall. It's been a week to forget for Littler, first losing the Prem finals match against Humphries and now this. 51 minutes ago By Nyle Smith Prize money Stephen Bunting is set to take home a nice bit of prize money for his huge Nordic Darts win. Here is the breakdown: Winner (1) £30,000 Runner-up (1) £16,000 Semi-finalists (2) £10,000 Quarter-finalists (4) £5,000 First round (8) £1,750 Today, 22:48 By Nyle Smith Bunting speaks Stephen Bunting said: "The way I have been playing, I was wondering if I was going to win another title again. 'My doubles have been atrocious over the last few months. It's something I need to work on. 'But when you win titles, against the calibre of players I am playing week-in, week-out, it means an awful lot. "Hopefully I am involved with the World Series for a few more years.' Today, 21:41 By Ian Tuckey *Stephen Bunting 0-1 Rob Cross Cross raced down to a 55 target by matching Bunting's 180. And with the Bullet stranded on 100, Cross completed an impressive 14-dart hold. Today, 21:39 By Ian Tuckey Stephen Bunting 0-0 Rob Cross* Cross opens with 100 - with both men averaging around 95 for the tournament so far. But it's Bunting who's in for the first 180. Today, 21:33 By Ian Tuckey Stephen Bunting vs Rob Cross Cross will throw first in what promises to be a fitting finale to this thrilling tournament. It's a tough one to call - with both men in excellent semi-final form. Today, 21:21 By Ian Tuckey FINAL - Bunting vs Cross It's an all-English finale to some gripping action in the Nordic Darts Masters. Stephen Bunting held off a storming revival from Nathan Aspinall to triumph 7-5 in the first semi-final. And Rob Cross came from 2-1 down to gradually outplay Gerwyn Price for an excellent 7-4 win. Today, 21:19 By Ian Tuckey RESULT: Rob Cross 7-4 Gerwyn Price Cross took his time with his double shots to finally clinch this leg and a place in the final in 18 darts. Price battled to stay in touch and got down to 20. But Cross always had the edge. He returned to clinch victory over the title-holder and most impressive performer of the earlier quarter-finals. It also means Cross has avenged his defeat against the Iceman in last year's final.
