Rob Cross is a professional darts player from England who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) competitions.
Following his victory over Phil Taylor, he has been crowned the 2018 PDC World Darts Champion.
The most fantastic thing about Cross is that he won the World Championship on his debut! The player had only been a professional for 11 months.
Want to know more about Rob Cross and his PDC journey? Do read the article to the end!
But, before that, here are some quick facts about the World Champion.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Robert Cross |
Nickname | The Voltage |
Birth Place | Pembury, UK |
Birth Date | September 21, 1990 |
Nationality | British |
Descent | Anglo Indian |
Hobbies | Darts |
Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
Education | Sackville School |
Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Father’s Name | Not Available |
Mother’s Name | Sally Cross |
Siblings | Not Available |
Age | 34 years old |
Height | Not Available |
Reach | Not Available |
Weight | Not Available |
Eye Color | Brown |
Hairstyle | Bald |
Profession | Darts Player |
Darts Sponsor | Target |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Georgia Cross |
Active Years | Not Available |
Children | Layton, Imogen, Maddison, and Bobby |
Net Worth | $3 million – $5 million |
Social Media | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
Merch | Dartboard Set |
Last Update | December, 2024 |
Rob Cross: Early Life and Family
Rob was born on 21 September 1990 in Pembury, Kent, England. His mother’s name is Sally Cross. She used to work at a grocery store.
However, his father does not like public attention; therefore, his name remains unknown. Whatsoever according to sources, it is known that his father used to work as a truck driver.
Rob spent most of his childhood in Edenbridge, Kent. He was born and raised in a low-income home. The player had the responsibility of looking after the family.
Before becoming a dart player, he worked as an electrician and occasionally played darts.
Cross’s grandfather died in April 2020 as a result of COVID-19.
Rob Cross’s First Attempt at the BDO
Rob qualified for the 2016 BDO World Darts Championship in October 2015. However, he was knocked out in the final 64 by Tony Martin.
He also competed in the 2015 World Masters, where he was defeated in the final 48 minutes by Darius Labanauskas.
Rob Cross: PDC Career
In January and February 2016, Riley’s bars hosted a series of qualifications nationwide.
Rob had failed in South Benfleet and was reluctant to travel to Norwich for the final qualifying round the following weekend until his uncle Robert dragged him out of bed.
The player won in Norwich and advanced to the last 32 of the UK Open before falling to world No. 1 Michael van Gerwen 9-5.
Rob’s results that weekend – and a surprising lack of anxiety – encouraged him to take a break from his day job and join the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour.
He finished first in the order of merit, earning him a two-year tour card for 2017 and 2018.
Likewise, Rob played his first professional match on 3 February, winning £250 during a UK Open qualifier in Wigan.
He participated in the competition after seeing the previous year’s world championship final between Van Gerwen and Gary Anderson on TV.
Rob has been the revelation that never stops unveiling since then. The player initially made an impression on the floor, winning four Players Championship events between March and October.
Similarly, Rob also beat Van Gerwen 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the European Darts Open, which is merely a floor competition and a short-form game.
However, it is an essential rite of passage for any young player.
In October 2017, Rob reached his first premier tournament final, the European Championship. However, he was defeated by Michael Van Gerwen.
2018 World Championship
Rob made his World Championship debut as the 20th seed in 2018, reaching the final against Phil Taylor.
However, reaching the final was not an easy task. The player had to beat the top dart players like Seigo Asada, John Henderson, Michael Smith, Dimitri Van den Bergh, and Michael van Gerwen.
Moreover, Rob successfully defeated Taylor in the finals and secured his first World Championship title.
Rob is the only player to have won the World Championship after surviving match darts in two successive rounds.
Further, he also became the tenth player in history to win the World Championship on his first try.
After winning the World Championship, Rob Cross posted the picture of the trophy on Instagram and captioned it as:
“Oh, what a night…
The awesome event at Under The Bridge at Chelsea with SAP.
I won my World final rematch against Phil but only just.
He’s still got it, trust me! ⚡️⚡️⚡️🏆”
Likewise, the player also finished third in the PDC Order of Merit after winning the World Championship. He also automatically qualified for the 2018 Premier League Darts.
2018 Premier League
Several commentators predicted Rob would have a down year because the pressure of being a world champion would get him.
Despite this, he made a strong start in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals. However, Rob only won one player’s championship title in 2018 compared to four in 2017.
He won players’ championship 13 by defeating Peter Wright in the final and his first World Series event, the Brisbane Darts Masters, by defeating Micheal Van Gerwen 10-6 in the final.
The player had reached two World Series finals that year: Shanghai and Las Vegas.
Other Tournaments and Victories
Rob lost 4–2 against Luke Humphries in the fourth round of the 2019 World Championship to defend his world championship.
At the 2019 UK Open in Minehead, Rob reached his third primary and sixth televised final. However, Rob finished the competition as the tournament’s runner-up, losing badly against Nathan Aspinall.
At the 2019 Premier League Darts, Rob reached his second televised final. After coming second in the league format, the player traveled to the O2 in London for the Play-Offs.
In the semi-finals, he faced up against James Wade and won. In the final, the player faced World Number One Michael van Gerwen. He finally lost the tournament by a score of 11–6.
Rob defeated Michael Smith in the World Matchplay with a score of 18–13 in legs. Rob is only the fourth player in history to have won the World Championship and the World Matchplay.
More Victories
On his journey to the final, the player defeated Chris Dobey, Krzysztof Ratajski, Stephen Bunting, and Daryl Gurney.
At the 2019 Brisbane Darts Masters, Cross achieved his fourth World Series Final. In the final leg decider, he was defeated 8–7 by champion Damon Heta.
Likewise, Rob won his third major PDC championship, the European Championship, on October 27, 2019, defeating Gerwyn Price 11–6 in the final in Göttingen, Germany.
Cross struggled at the 2020 World Championship, falling 3–0 to Kim Huybrechts in the second round.
In the World Series of Darts Finals, he defeated Michael Smith and James Wade on his way to the final, when Gerwyn Price defeated him.
Similarly, Rob was eliminated in the second round of the 2021 World Championship by Dirk van Duijvenbode, 3–2.
The player won his fourth PDC major in the 2021 European Darts Championship, defeating Michael van Gerwen 11-8 in the final.
Likewise, Rob began his 2022 World Championship campaign with a 3–1 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.
In the following round, he defeated Daryl Gurney in a final set thriller before losing 4–3 to Gary Anderson in the fourth round.
Rob Cross: Depression
Cross has confessed that the transition from “novice” to world champion sent him into a downward spiral.
Rob, a former electrician who lit up Alexandra Palace, acknowledged that the aftermath of victory had left him feeling like a “zombie.”
In a harsh appraisal of his form, the player admitted that the flip side of glory had taken a severe toll on his mental health.
Rob says that the depression had thrown him into the deepest end he could have ended up. However, he utilized it to his advantage. It helped shape me into the player he is now.
According to Rob, he had to learn the hard way; however, he is getting there.
Being himself, Rob wouldn’t take any assistance. He went to everything alone. He was different at home, which soured everything.
However, the player says that he has coped with his depression now. He has a beautiful life at home and a great relationship with his children and wife. He says that everything is now precious to him.
The COVID 19 Pandemic
Rob competed in the Unibet Home Tour in 2021. Unfortunately, his family was infected with the coronavirus pandemic four weeks after the game.
The World Champion lost his grandpa to Covid-19 because he suffered health problems before catching the virus. Cross and his family held the funeral in a small family gathering.
When asked about how he has been coping with everything, Rob said that it had been a painful couple of months, and the passing of his grandfather was a terrible shock.
Rob Cross: Wife
The darts player is married to his wife, Georgia Cross. Rob and Georgia first met in Edenbridge, Kent, in January 2008 when Rob walked into the pet shop where Georgia worked as a 16-year-old Saturday girl.
Rob, who had spiky hair then, was at college studying electrical engineering and working two shifts a week in a Co-op.
The two bonded well, and it was evident immediately how nice and compassionate both were to each other.
Georgia says that Rob got them a bag of chips to share the first time they met, and they spoke for a couple of hours while eating the chips.
Rob was very interested in darts. He used to practice and play at The Fountain bar on Mondays. They had their first date in the same Fountain bar while Rob practiced the darts.
Within a year, Georgia moved in with Rob and his supporting parents. The two soon got married in October 2013. They had a £999 reception because that was all they could afford.
Rob Cross: Kids
Georgia and Rob are still equally in love with each other. The couple has four kids: Leyton, Madison, Imogen, and Bobby.
Their daughter Madison was born when Rob was playing in Barnsley. He says he had to miss the birth of his child to make his dart’s dream come true.
Likewise, the fourth child, Bobby, was born in 2020. Upon the baby’s arrival, the player announced the child’s birth via a post on Instagram. He stated:
“Georgia and I would like to introduce our baby boy Bobby welcomed to the world this morning, weighing 5lb 7. We’re home all safe and well with three very impressed siblings.”
Social Media
The World Champion is on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. He has thousands of followers altogether.
Rob usually shares pictures, reels, and videos of his personal and professional life on his social media platforms.
If you guys are curious about Rob Cross and his lifestyle, feel free to follow him on his following accounts:
Facebook: Rob Cross (4.4k Friends)
Instagram: @robcrossdarts (43.2k followers)
Twitter: @RobCross180 (80k followers)
Rob’s Twitter bio describes himself as “PDC Darts Professional, 2018 World Champion, 2019 World Matchplay winner, 2019 European Champion, 2017 PC 4 x Winner.”
Cross also has his website called robcrossvoltage.co.uk. The website shares news and articles related to Rob. Further, you can also shop various Rob Cross products via his website.
Rob does not yet have a YouTube channel. However, his videos are released on YouTube by various sports channels, including the official track of the PDC.
Rob Cross: Net Worth
Rob has had a stellar career in the sport of darts. As a result, Rob has collected a substantial fortune from living a life of luxury.
Despite his early financial difficulties, Rob is now one of the wealthiest darts players.
Rob makes the most of his money as a professional darts player. In his career, he has received hefty amounts of prize money.
“THE VOLTAGE” Rob Cross is estimated to have a $3-$5 MILLION net worth.
In addition to prize money, the former darts player makes money through sponsorships and endorsements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rob Cross called the Voltage?
Rob used to work as an electrician before becoming a dart professional. He got his nickname, “Voltage,” from his previous occupation.
Who are the World Championship and World Matchplay players before Rob Cross?
Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson are the three players to win the World Championship and World Matchplay. Rob became the fourth player in history to achieve the feat.
What is Rob Cross’s walk-on music?
The World Champion, Rob Cross’s walk-on music is “Hot Hot Hot” by Arrow.
What specific darts does Rob Cross throw?
Rob Cross uses target Voltage darts weighing 21 grams. They are tiny darts with a considerably more pleasant grip than most others.