Revealed: Why Rob Cross was forced to fly home WITHOUT his Dutch Darts Masters trophy after beating Stephen Bunting
Rob Cross revealed that he was forced to leave his Dutch Masters trophy behind in the Netherlands because it would not fit in his suitcase on the way home.
The 34-year-old also joked that he was worried about injuring himself when lifting the giant piece of silverware.
Cross defeated Stephen Bunting 8-5 in Saturday night’s final, impressively holding his nerve against the No 1 seed to take the final three legs.
The victory is Cross’ first title of 2025 and his fifth on the World Series Circuit but, after securing the title, two more challenge remained.
First, lifting the huge trophy in celebration and then bringing it home. He did managed to raise his prize for pictures (just about) but had to leave it in the Netherlands because it was too big for his luggage allowance on the flight home
‘There is one other trophy that is a bit heavier and that’s the Worlds,’ Cross said. ‘I thought I was going to pull a muscle when I lifted it. I thought: “Don’t do it!”
Rob Cross successfully lifts the Dutch Masters trophy after worrying he might injure himself
Cross flexes his muscles en route to victory and he needed all of that strength to lift his prize
Stephen Bunting defeated Luke Littler in the semi-finals but failed to go on to win the title
‘It nearly slipped out of my hand. But it’s amazing to come here and win. We turn up and play all over the world. If you are not winning, it doesn’t mean anything. This is special.
‘I don’t think I have room for it to take home. Anyone got a spare case? It’s very heavy…’
Cross will have little time to celebrate with his World Masters campaign kicking off on Thursday when he faces a qualifier.
But Voltage insists that he wouldn’t have it any othr way and feels privileged to live life on tour.
‘Sometimes I’m not always at my best but I still get results,’ he said.
‘No one has a gun to their head. This sport is not a matter of life or death. Go out there and enjoy it. Embrace it.
‘Name me another sport where you go up on stage as an individual and get treated like that. It’s truly amazing.
‘I cannot get that buzz anywhere in life. I shouldn’t tell my missus that. I have four kids. You have gotten me a divorce now!
Cross insists he is loving life on tour and feels privileged to do something he loves for a living
The 2018 world champion is in action on Thursday when he starts his World Masters campaign
Cross said he had to ‘break a sweat’ to win the Dutch Masters title and loves the limelight
‘I had to break a sweat to win this one. I love the World Series. I’m very fond to it. I enjoy going around the world.
‘As much as we might all moan here and there about the flights, without it I’d have an average job and be another person, who would carry on working the way I was.
‘I always say I can beat the best players in the world – but I can also lose to Mickey Mouse tomorrow morning.
‘I love the TV lights. I am a bit guilty at the ProTours, behind closed doors, it is a bit harder to get up for them. Every TV tournament I want to win and play well.’
