Rob Cross is targeting back-to-back televised titles at the Brisbane Darts Masters.
Fresh from becoming just the fourth player in PDC history to win the World Championship and the World Matchplay, Cross will jet out to Australia and New Zealand later this month for a trio of World Series of Darts events.
The first tournament Down Under will take place at the BCEC Brisbane from August 9-10 (delayed coverage will be shown on ITV4 for UK viewers) and Cross is feeling confident of defending his crown.
“It’s a massive confidence boost for me ahead of Brisbane,” said Cross, who beat Michael van Gerwen in last year's final.
“Hopefully I can go there and defend my title, I couldn’t have asked for a better preparation.
“I loved it in Brisbane last year and this is the first of three big events in Australia and New Zealand, so I want to keep my form going when we get back out there.
“The World Series has been fantastic. I’ve not played my best darts in Las Vegas and Germany but I’m feeling great after winning in Blackpool.”
Cross followed up his fairy-tale 2018 World Championship success with a second televised ranking title at the Winter Gardens last Sunday, but survived a comeback from Michael Smith in the final after going 9-0 up.
The £150,000 top prize cements Cross' position as world number two for the rest of 2019, but the 29-year-old is only looking up.
"It still hasn't sunk in really, it means everything to me to be World Matchplay champion," Cross told The Darts Show.
"When Michael started playing I was thinking 'you've got to get playing again Rob'.
"It just wasn't happening for me but a couple of decent finishes toward the end won me that game.
"We all want to break records, but if you don't believe you can be that world number one, if you can't walk into a room and think you're the best player in there then why are you doing it?
"You've got to believe you're the best player in there on the day and if you don't then go home."