Rob Cross sends classy message to ‘legend of the game’ Peter Wright after thrashing him at Grand Slam of Darts
ROB CROSS offered a kind message to a “suffering” Peter Wright after easing his way through the group at the Grand Slam of Darts.
Fourth seed Cross, 34, thrashed two-time world champion Wright 5-1 to clinch his spot in the second round.
The result condemned Wright to a third loss as he was eliminated from the Bolton-based competition without a single point – having also been whitewashed in his opener.
It adds to the Scot’s dismal season which has included a second-round exit at the world championships and a bottom-place finish in the Premier League.
Wright, 54, won the world title for a second time at Ally Pally in 2022.
And Cross, the 2018 champion of the world, had sympathy for his opponent after Wright averaged just 83.55 across the six legs.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “It wasn’t too bad. I’m playing a legend of the game and he’s not at his best.
“I love it when Peter’s at his best. I’ve really got to say I expected a little bit more tonight and never got it – he’d probably admit that.
“But he’s a great man and these guys [the crowd] the way they chant his name they should never forget.
“I hope he does come back, I hope he does rebuild. [Tonight] is not really about me. I don’t like seeing people suffering. I felt for him.”
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He went on to add: “He’s a great guy and he deserves a lot more.”
Cross will now face Ritchie Edhouse for a place in the quarter-finals – where Martin Lukeman or Ross Smith will be waiting.
He is bidding to go one step further than last year’s Grand Slam of Darts when he lost 16-8 to Luke Humphries in the final.