"Maybe I would have had a little bit more time out of the game and not carried on" - Rob Cross admits retirement was on his mind following turbulent period

Rob Cross has been going through a tough time not just on the oche, but in his personal life in these last few years. While he is starting to finally find his feet on the oche once more with some better performances, the temptation of waking away from the sport did rise, only to be stopped by people close to him.

The 2018 world champion was world number four at the start of 2025 and was readying himself for another Premier League Darts campaign. Fast forward a year and a half and he found himself in a race to qualify for some of the biggest tournaments including the World Matchplay, an event he won in 2019.

He managed to find his feet after a plummet in the rankings saw him trying to find his old self back on the dartboard. Still ranked outside of the top 20, there is much work to do but based off recent results, there is a slight bit of hope that ‘Voltage’ can find his magic touch once more.

Since his marvellous breakout year capped off by winning the PDC World Darts Championship, Cross was backed by Target Darts as he forged a very close friendship with owner Gary Plummer. He has also labelled his manager, Rab Bain, as a “father figure” as he aided Cross’ tricky times in and out of the sport.

When speaking to Oche180, Cross offered his flowers to the pair of them. “Gary [Plummer] and Rab [Bain] I have known the longest. Gary I have known pretty much six months of being a professional,” he stated.

“He has been everywhere with me. We have a great life and I talk to him a lot. He is a great support and friend in life. Not only does he sell me stuff and look, he has got the best darts manufacturing company out there.” He is also a really good friend. Rab is like a father to me.”

A lot of things has happened in the 35-year-old’s life as of late. From getting a divorce from his wife to tax evasion to a drop off in form, he is truly thankful to have the people around him. “I think over the years I have had a lot of things and I am only human,” he continued.

“You do a lot of things wrong. They are always around me and supporting me, whether it be my mental health or tax situation. Or even the break-up, it is very important to have these people in your life. People that care about me. It’s not just about darts with them boys. They will legitimately phone me up and just ask how I am. That is nice. It is not always about darts. But to just have that phone call or chat has been a massive help in my life.”

Cross is a notorious figure in darts who also holds a lot of prestige in being a former world champion among the other major titles collected in his pomp. He does have some close friends on the PDC Tour, most notably Josh Rock and Scott Williams whom he regularly talks to and hangs out with.

With those two along with Plummer and Bain, the Englishman admitted that him still competing in darts may not have been a possibility. “Having Josh [Rock] and Scotty [Williams], all great players, keeps me motivated on tour. It is a really good combination of people," he stated.

“Gary and Rab have done the most for me because I have known them the longest. I am really appreciative. I think at times maybe it would have been a little bit different. Maybe I would have had a little bit more time out of the game and not carried on.”

In the last few months, Cross has won Players Championship 22 and reached the final of the inaugural Slovak Darts Open. He is in a good position to qualify for the World Grand Prix, European Championship and Players Championship Finals thanks to these results with a lot to look forward to on the oche in the coming months.