Rob Cross blasts past Danny Noppert in dominant World Matchplay opener

Rob Cross **dominated Danny Noppert 10-3** to seal his first-round win at the **2026 Cazoo World Matchplay** on Monday night in Blackpool.

What happened?

Cross needed a late surge to qualify after a shaky run of form, but once he arrived he made sure Noppert never settled. The Dutchman, nicknamed **The Freeze**, never threatened to derail the world No. 22 seed. Cross didn’t need his A-game to cruise past a shell-shocked opponent who managed just three legs all night.

The match wrapped inside 45 minutes, with Cross hitting enough doubles to keep the pressure on. His 98.45 average wasn’t spectacular, but it didn’t need to be. Noppert’s 87.21 told the story-he never looked like he belonged in the same arena.

Why it matters for Rob Cross

Speaking to the media after the win, Cross admitted his personal life had narrowed his focus to one thing: the oche. **“I’m single now, so that’s all I’ve really got in the world now is darts,”** he said. **“I can just concentrate on that.”**

His manager, **Rab Bain**, had delivered a blunt wake-up call the day before. Bain waved the World Matchplay race card under Cross’s nose-showing him he was hovering near the cut-off. **“You’re really in trouble,”** Bain told him. The next morning, Cross checked the standings. He was 40-something. **“I was in no man’s land,”** he admitted.

That jolt pushed him into the practice room with a new edge. **“I worked my socks off to get here,”** Cross said. **“I feel like I deserve to be here.”** The win kept his streak of Blackpool appearances intact-he’s never missed the tournament since turning pro.

The fight back begins

Cross knows his ranking doesn’t scream danger. **“What you’re looking at is a world number 22 maybe,”** he said. **“Overlooked? I think I would have done better on Jobseeker’s than that one personally!”**

He’s been here before-last year he skipped most of the calendar but still landed a Premier League invite on reputation. This time, no invites came. **“I never got replaced this year,”** he said. **“I’ve not played well for a long time.”**

Yet here he is, back in the mix. His first-round exit in 2025 still stings, but Monday’s performance proved he can still summon the killer instinct when it counts.

What comes next?

Cross next faces the survivor of **Luke Humphries vs Fallon Sherrock** in the second round. A win would set up a clash with either **Michael van Gerwen** or **Luke Littler**-both in scintillating form.

For now, Cross is just glad to be back where he belongs. **“If you miss this place, you’re doing something wrong in your career,”** he said. **“I’ve been very fortunate to be here every year since I’ve been a professional.”**

And this year, he’s not leaving early.