Rob Cross slapped with five-year ban over £450k tax debt as Luke Littler opponent for Copenhagen masters is confirmed
Rob Cross Faces Five-Year Director Ban Over £450k Tax Debt as Luke Littler’s Copenhagen Opponent Confirmed
Former PDC World Champion Rob Cross has been disqualified from serving as a company director for five years, until June 2030, after his company, Rob Cross Darts Limited, failed to pay over £450,000 in taxes, including £403,896 in corporation tax, £49,071 in VAT, and £12,436 in PAYE and National Insurance contributions. According to the Insolvency Service, reported by BBC News and Express.co.uk, Cross withdrew £306,403 from the company between March 2020 and its liquidation in November 2023, funds that should have gone to HMRC and other creditors, leaving a total debt of £579,805. An additional £665,419 was paid to a connected party’s personal account, further complicating the financial misconduct. Cross has entered an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) to repay debts through tournament earnings, with monthly contributions varying based on his performance. Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, stated, “When directors fail to pay the correct amount of tax, it directly impacts vital public services like the NHS.” The ban does not affect Cross’s ability to compete in darts, and he is set to face Andreas Harrysson in the first round of the 2025 Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen on June 6, per Sportscasting.com.[](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4gpdz0yd2o)[](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/former-world-darts-champion-rob-cross-banned-as-director-over-unpaid-taxes)
Meanwhile, Luke Littler, the reigning PDC World Champion, will make his Nordic Darts Masters debut against Benjamin Reus in Copenhagen, as confirmed by Dartsnews.com. The 18-year-old, who won the 2025 World Championship and Dutch Darts Masters, is part of a star-studded field including Cross, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price, the 2024 Copenhagen champion. Littler’s participation follows his 6-3 semi-final loss to Stephen Bunting at the 2025 Dutch Darts Masters, where he averaged a tournament-record 107.59, per Sky Sports. Despite a 2024 altercation with Ricardo Pietreczko, Cross has supported Littler’s flair, likening him to Phil Taylor, telling Express.co.uk, “Luke’s got that raw ability, like Phil had.” The Copenhagen event, with a £100,000 prize fund (£30,000 for the winner), sets the stage for Littler to continue his ascent, while Cross aims to rebound from his off-stage financial troubles.
