A New Era in Darts

Northern Ireland's rising star, Josh Rock, is ready to take on the elite of professional darts, specifically targeting the formidable strength of Luke Littler. With Littler having recently clinched his first world title at just 17, many are drawing parallels to the legendary reign of Phil Taylor, a 16-time world champion.

Rock, now 23, emerged onto the scene as a sensational talent after clinching the 2022 World Youth Darts Championship, where he set a record for the highest average in a final with an impressive 104.13. This achievement put him firmly on the radar as one of the sport’s next big names. In addition to his youth triumph, Rock has demonstrated his prowess by winning several Players Championship events and the coveted 2024 Dutch Darts Championship.

As he gears up for the 2025 season, Rock is confident that this year will mark a turning point in his career.

“I had a solid 2024 but honestly I think 2025 is going to be my year,” Rock shared ahead of the upcoming World Masters tournament in Milton Keynes.

He recognizes Littler's astounding early success as indicative of a broader trend in darts, where youth reigns supreme.

“It is fantastic for the sport - Luke winning the Worlds at such a young age shows it is a young man's sport now.”

Rock's journey is impressive; his best moment in the PDC premier circuit came when he reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts. Notably, he also became the first player to achieve a televised nine-dart finish on debut at this very tournament the year prior.

With only a six-year age gap between him and Littler, Rock is optimistic about the potential for a long-standing rivalry that could define the sport for years to come.

“My game is there to challenge, it always has been, it just has to come out when it needs to. I 100 percent believe it.”

As Rock prepares to face Jermaine Wattimena this Thursday in the restructured World Masters, the darts community watches eagerly. Littler, entering the tournament for the first time, is set to battle Andy Baetens from Belgium the following day. This thrilling backdrop sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating year in the world of darts.