After Rob Cross pulled out of the Dutch Darts Championship at the last minute, there were speculations as to what led to the former champion's exit. Cross, 36, was set to face Ricardo Pietreczko or Heine Uuldriks in his first match on Saturday, October 17, 2026, but was suddenly replaced by Brendan Dolan.
The 2018 World Darts Championship title holder announced his exit on social media, where he apologised to fans before heading back to England. Cross, also known as 'Voltage', wrote on Instagram, "I had just arrived in Maastricht, but unfortunately, I've had to pull out of the tournament and return home due to personal reasons.
Apologies to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Europe and all the fans." Cross's exit comes as 19-year-old Luke Littler continues to boycott competitions in the Netherlands due to hostile fan reception. The world No. 1 is often heckled in Holland, with the frosty reception peaking at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.
Littler warned last month, "If the Dutch stay like this, I'm not going to do any Euro Tours there. There's no point in me travelling and wasting my time while getting booed." Despite his 11th-hour withdrawal, Cross is expected to return for the European Championship scheduled next week in Dortmund, Germany.
The sudden nature of the withdrawal has left many fans disappointed, as the Dutch Darts Championship is a highlight of the European circuit. Organizers have confirmed that the tournament will proceed as scheduled with the replacement player.
Industry experts suggest that while personal reasons are cited, the high-pressure environment of professional darts can take a toll on even the most seasoned veterans. Cross has maintained a rigorous schedule throughout the year, competing in multiple high-stakes events across the continent.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has not released further details regarding the nature of the personal issues, respecting the athlete's privacy during this time. Fans are now looking forward to the upcoming European Championship, hoping that the sport's top stars will be back in full force to compete for the prestigious title.
As the darts community awaits further updates, the focus remains on the integrity of the competition and the well-being of the players involved in these grueling international tours.