ROB CROSS flew out today ahead of the German Darts Masters – but he is already looking forward to a title challenge much closer to home.

The World Champion will headline at the Brighton Centre in September when the Champions League of Darts is held in the city.

For Cross it is probably the shortest trip he will make on the PDC circuit as he heads along the A27 from his St Leonards home.

Cross told The Argus: “They moved the Champions League to Brighton. It was in Wales before so I am quite grateful it’s been moved as it’s only an hour down the road. It will be a nice one to travel to for a change.”

He added: “I will probably stay in Brighton during the actual weekend because of my concentration rather than being at home.

“But I am really looking forward to it. It’s the top eight players in the world.

“It’s a novelty to be there but not only that, it’s a round robin too so it is going to be a bit like the Grand Slam in a longer format.

“It’s a really good format and I’ve had loads of friends from the area buy tickets.

“Hopefully I shall have a lot of support there too.

“I want to win it - that’s the plan.”

Cross stunned the sport of darts by becoming world champion just 11 months after turning professional.

He describes his stellar rise as a “whirlwind” and he has only just come back from a short break with his family after losing in the Premier League semi-finals to Michael Van Gerwen.

The former electrician admits the pace of life since his sensational World Championship success in January and place on the Premier League tour has been breathtaking.

He said: “I’ve had a nice little four-day break with the kids after the end of the Premier League and now it is the World Series in Germany.

“It’s a busy schedule, a very busy schedule. I was a bit shocked. At first I just thought like I normally do ‘it will be alright’ and I didn’t realise quite how demanding the Premier League was going to be.

“But it is all a good thing really. It is a massive learning curve. To get to the semi-finals of the Premier League, and not really know too much about it all and what works for me, means it went really well.

“It could have gone a lot worse that’s for sure.”

Cross, who was planning on popping down Sidley Working Men’s Club yesterday to catch up with a few mates, remains grounded despite life-changing amounts of money including the £400,000 winner’s cheque for his world title.

He said: “It’s been a whirlwind since the worlds.

“It’s been tough, a learning curve like I said, but I would not change it for the world. I love my job - and my family have been really good with me being away. It’s absolutely fine.

“You need the family backing, you can’t fight each other while you’re doing it. If you did, then you would end up playing rubbish every week. I am happy to have their support.”

l Tickets for the Champions League of Darts are available from brightoncentre.co.uk, by calling 0844 847 1515 or at The Brighton Centre