Former world champion Rob Cross doesn't put Luke Littler or Phil Taylor at the pinnacle of his darts pyramid. And having played both over the course of his 10-year pro career, his insight is perhaps worth heeding.
Two-time world champion Littler is widely viewed as the only player capable of matching Taylor's record 16 world titles. The 19-year-old has already smashed records as the youngest champion in history and has been tipped as the second coming of 'The Power'.
But Cross instead named Michael van Gerwen as the biggest challenge he's ever faced personally. 'MVG' was in his pomp when 'Voltage' first entered the PDC circuit, and he believes the Dutchman prevented him from celebrating even greater success during his early years.
"It’s tough to evaluate. If I'd have said the toughest player I’ve ever played, I had one game against Phil [Taylor] and you can’t really take that," Cross told Online Darts in 2025. “If I’d have played him numerous times, I’d have got a feel of what he was like and the domination he had at one point."
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The sole meeting between Cross and Taylor took place in the final of the 2018 World Darts Championship. Voltage emerged a 7-2 victor at Alexandra Palace that day as Taylor was denied the darts farewell he dreamed of.
Cross continued: "Michael, he was different gravy, I suppose, when I first burst on the scene. He probably stopped me from winning three or four titles that year. In my personal opinion, at the minute, he’s the best player I’ve ever played.
"At the minute, it’s Michael for me. He always found something when he needed it. He had that extra gear change when he was in trouble. I’ve not seen many players like that, including myself."
It's worth noting Littler has since gone on to successfully defend his world championship since Cross made those comments. Voltage has also tallied one more win over Littler in a Players Championship event, though their head-to-head record is still slanted massively in favour of 'The Nuke'.
Referring to his fairly one-sided record against Littler and the teenager's current trajectory, Cross added: "At the same time, the young man, if he holds it down for another three or four years and keeps sort of improving then maybe it’ll be him.
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"I don’t feel like I’ve played well. I think I’ve played rubbish against him and played better stuff elsewhere. That needs to change and maybe even other people have done the same."
Littler is targeting a fourth Premier League night win in five attempts when he returns to action in Manchester on Thursday. The teenager is already well en route to reclaiming the Premier League crown as he sits two points clear at the table summit midway through the season.
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