Rob Cross wins first darts match since being banned as company director over £450k in unpaid tax
ROB CROSS won his first darts match since his financial woes were made public.
The 2018 world champion has been disqualified as a director for five years – until June 2030 – after his company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax.
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The Insolvency Service found that the Premier League Darts star withdrew more than £300,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited between March 2020 and November 2023 that should have gone to creditors, including to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The world No.9 also took out more than £400,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited – which was set up eight years ago to receive his earnings and prize money – in the form of a director's loan account by the time the company went into liquidation.
In an attempt to repay part of his debts, Cross has entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), a legally binding agreement where he has committed to making regular payments to an insolvency practitioner.
Monthly contributions to the IVA will vary depending on the income he receives through his performances at darts tournaments during this year and future years.
There is £30,000 available for the winner of this weekend's Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen and he began the event by beating Swedish thrower Andreas Harrysson 6-4 in round one.
The world No.9 – who plays fellow Premier League star Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals on Saturday – says he spent Thursday walking round the Danish capital for '14-and-a-half miles'.
Probably a chance to clear his head and get away from the news that was released by The Insolvency Service while he was away.
Cross, 34, said: 'I've not picked up the darts for a while.
'I have had two-and-a-half weeks off. I had been a little bit lazy. I'll be better 100% in my next match.
'I didn't know where my game was at – I could have gone out there and hit 120 or a 48.
Rob Cross follows Luke Humphries with stunning nine-darter
'Andreas is very dangerous and has played great. I am happy to get over the line and keep pushing. Tomorrow it has to come together.
'To win this would be fantastic. I have had time off and some difficulties. But it would mean a lot to win it this week.
'Tonight could have been tougher with a few boos and whistles, it could have swung the game in his favour.
'We all feel it when the darts are flowing and the crowd gets on your back. I'm very appreciative of that. Darts is tough.
'It has been nice to be here. The weather was better than I expected. I thought it was going to rain. It's a great place to go out and fill your lungs out with some air.'
Cross famously won the PDC World Darts Championship in 2018 – he trounced the retiring Phil Taylor 7-2 in the final – on his debut appearance in the competition.
His management team have declined to comment on the story.
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