Danny Noppert Falls to Rob Cross in World Matchplay Darts

Danny Noppert falls to Rob Cross in World Matchplay Darts.

What happened?

Rob Cross made a heartbreaking confession after his commanding 10-3 round-one win over Danny Noppert at the World Matchplay Darts on Monday. This comes after the 35-year-old announced his split from wife Georgia last month.

Why it matters for Danny Noppert

Cross has been some difficult moments both on the board and financially. Last December, he was disqualified from acting as a company director for five years, following the collapse of his business earlier last summer. Voltage's company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax.

What comes next?

Cross has since returned to the stage for this month's World Matchplay and made a bright start as he looks to climb the tournament rankings. He said: "Motivation, I suppose, my manager, he had a little conversation and me and him, we don't have many conversations. "I love to win an argument and I love to win a conversation, but he sat me down and he said, 'come on son, have you seen the World Matchplay race' and I was like 'nah, not looked at it' because I never ever look. I've been blessed, I've been silverspooned, I've been the other stuff but he said to me, 'you're really in trouble' so following that I thought 'alright, I'll have a little peek. "I was about forty some-odd, I was in no man's land but my words to him was 'I'm going to be alright, don't worry about it, just wash it off.' But when I did look at it, that was my motivation."

Cross also made an heartbreaking admission. He added: "If you miss this place [World Matchplay] you're doing something wrong in your career and I've been very fortunate to be here, most of my years, I think all my years actually. "Since I've been professional I've loved this place and to miss it, actually, it was probably heartbreaking. Maybe give up, you know, I'm not too sure. I suppose I look at darts now, I'm single, it's all I've really got in the world now, it's darts. I can just concentrate at that."

The former world champion darts player has been some difficult moments both on the board and financially. Last December, he was disqualified from acting as a company director for five years, following the collapse of his business earlier last summer. Voltage's company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax.

Cross is banned from serving as a company director until June 2030, a sanction revealed last summer. He has since entered an Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA) to repay part of the money he owes, with monthly instalments that rise and fall depending on his darts earnings. "It’s not the proudest moment of my life," he said.

The World Matchplay Darts continues with its first round on Monday, with Danny Noppert looking to bounce back from his loss to Rob Cross.

category: match_report