ROB CROSS was unable to become the Great Dane of Darts – just days after his financial problems were released by The Insolvency Service.
Voltage, 34, finished runner-up to Stephen Bunting in the final of the Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen.
AlamyRob Cross will ‘carry on fighting and shy away from nothing’[/caption]
Stephen Bunting says victory meant ‘an awful lot’ to himGetty
Over the weekend, the 2018 world darts champion beat Swede Andreas Harrysson (6-4), Englishman Chris Dobey (6-0) and in the semi-finals, Welshman Gerwyn Price (7-4).
Yet in Saturday’s night’s final, he lost 8-4 to the Bullet at the Forum Copenhagen arena in the Danish capital.
Cross said: “It wasn’t meant to be for me. I probably ran out a little bit of steam.
“Credit to Stephen, he has a lovely management, lovely wife, lovely family. He was absolutely brilliant. I didn’t have it at the end.
“I’ve loved coming to Copenhagen. How buzzing is this crowd?
“I’ll carry on fighting. I never shy away from nothing. I have to admit the intensity this week killed me. I wanted to win so bad. I wanted to win this week.
“I wanted to know that there is no foot on my head. I think I proved that. I didn’t perform in the final. Fantastic to come here. I’d love to come back next year.”
Action on the oche, it is fair to say, has been a wonderful distraction to the news that broke on Thursday morning.
The Bullet is dreaming of more World Series titlesShutterstock Editorial
It was revealed that Cross, the world No.9 player, has been disqualified as a director for five years – until June 2030 – after his company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax.
The Insolvency Service claims 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 former electrician 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.
Though he was unable to nab the £30,000 top prize in the Scandinavian nation – Bunting, 40, secured his second World Series of Darts title this year – he will go home with £16,000 in his pocket.
A portion of that will go towards paying off the IVA that he has agreed to observe.
Cross famously won the PDC World Darts Championship seven years ago – 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.
Bunting, who hails from St Helens, nearly nailed it with a 170 finish but adds this trophy to the Bahrain Darts Masters crown in January.
He said: “The way I have been playing, I was wondering if I was going to win another title again.
“My doubles have been atrocious over the last few months. It’s something I need to work on.
“But when you win titles, against the calibre of players I am playing week-in, week-out, it means an awful lot.
“Hopefully I am involved with the World Series for a few more years.”
Cross praised Bunting but reckons he ran out of steamPA Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
