ROCK AIMS TO CONTINUE REMARKABLE RISE
15/02/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
By Aaron Nijjar
JOSH ROCK’S rise in darts took a special turn in 2022 when he won the World Youth Championship and made history by hitting a televised nine-darter in his debut year on tour.
Facing three-time World champion Michael van Gerwen in the last 16 of the Grand Slam, at just 21 years-old Rock hit a nine-darter and announced himself as a star for the future despite going on to lose the game 10-8.
But for ‘Rocky’ the occasion meant far more than just a record-breaking achievement.
His uncle had passed away in January that year, a man who had been a huge MVG fan and a big part of Rock’s own darts journey.
The Dutch Darts Champion revealed to the Irish Sun the emotional significance behind his stunning achievement.
He said: “He passed away and I used to always play darts with him. He was a big Michael Van Gerwen fan so I think he was there the night I had a nine darter so that is why I hit it.”
World No.17 Rock did not reveal this fact to Van Gerwen himself, but the feedback he got from the Dutchman remains with him nonetheless.
“He was very nice but the words he said to me that night on the stage, he said ‘you have a big bright future ahead Josh and I wish you all the best.'”
In 2023, the Antrim thrower achieved another milestone by making his debut at the World Championship. Remarkably, Rock made it to the last 16 in his first appearance, before being knocked out by Jonny Clayton.
His progress continued in 2024, with Rock securing two Players Championships and claiming his first title on the European Tour.
Looking ahead to the end of 2025, the 23-year-old has set his sights on breaking into the world’s top ten and reaching a Major final.
And the impact of his success has also been felt in his everyday life.
He revealed: “Whenever you are out with the family and stuff having meals, you have people coming up and asking for photos.
“It is something I never thought would happen to me and now it has happened and I’m very grateful.
“I do enjoy the attention but sometimes when it is a lot of people at one time, you are like, ‘go away’. At the same time, we have to do it because it is part and parcel of our job.”
2025 has seen a revolution of youth in darts, led by Luke Littler. Rock has signed with the same manufacturing partner as Littler – and believes the sport has become a young man’s game.
But the four-time Pro Tour winner cautioned not to underestimate the veterans keen to hold onto their perch.
He said: “What Littler has done for the sport has been fantastic. It wasn’t nowhere but it went from being watched every Thursday night and has gone through the roof.
“You can’t even get a ticket to competitions because they are all sold out. That is how big darts has got now.
“Littler, what he has done becoming a world champion at 17, is a big inspiration for everybody because it shows it doesn’t matter how old you are.
“Peter Wright won his first world title at 50, Luke Littler wins his first world title at 17. It doesn’t matter how old you are.
“Everybody is there to compete. It is a young man’s game, an old man’s game, it just depends on if you have it or not.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
