Josh Rock is assured he’ll win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship – simply not the 2024 version.
Almost ridiculously, Rock was made one of many favourites to win the match forward of his Ally Pally debut 12 months in the past. An spectacular first yr on the PDC Tour, together with a nine-darter towards Michael van Gerwen on the Grand Slam, had excited punters and bookies alike. Rock lived as much as the hype, beating Nathan Aspinall earlier than dropping to Jonny Clayton within the final 16.
Twelve months on and the noise surrounding Rock has died down. After a stable however unspectacular 2023, Rock isn’t as excessive up the bookies’ listing this time round.
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“I don’t understand where they get that [the odds] from,” displays Rock, who meets Berry van Peer within the second spherical tonight (Saturday). “I’m not fifth favourite now, I know that for a fact. Someone else can have the pressure of being talked about all the time.”
Prior to this yr’s Grand Slam, the 22-year-old had made 4 Pro Tour finals and one European Tour closing, however had actually struggled on the majors. His type goes in the best route although and development out of his group on the Grand Slam was an actual fillip forward of the Worlds.
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(Image: Taylor Lanning/PDC)
“The TV tournaments for me have been dreadful this year and I don’t know why,” he accepts. “I don’t get nervous when I go up on the stage, I get excited, but it just hasn’t happened.
“Looking back, it’s the doubles that have been killing me, that’s my weakest point. I practice them a lot but nothing seems to make a difference. It’ll click when it’s ready to click.
“I’m still pleased with how far I’ve come, although I’ve not looked back because you don’t have time, the calendar is that busy. But you haven’t seen the best in me. It all comes down to experience, 100%. Whenever the time’s right, the real Josh Rock will emerge.”
So ought to punters in search of an out of doors guess get behind the Northern Irish sensation? The man himself says it’s nonetheless too quickly.
“It [winning the World Championship] would mean the world to me,” he says. “I don’t suppose it is going to be this yr. If it’s, it could be a bonus. Me and my supervisor have talked about it. We suppose 2025 is the yr I’ll elevate it.
“But I’m solely 22. I might have 30-35 years at this recreation, if I would like it. I don’t need it as a result of now I’ve realised I don’t need to play for that lengthy.
(Image: Shutterstock)
“I want to be world number one. Everybody wants to be world number one but I probably want it more than anybody else. I know what I can do because to be the best you’ve got to beat the best, and I’ve done that.”
Rock is sensible past his years because of his life expertise away from the oche. He has a younger son and earlier than taking over darts full-time he labored in a hen manufacturing facility.
He has some phrases of recommendation for budding stars of the oche. He says: “I’d say to any teenager, don’t count on something too fast since you may very well be hitting nine-darters once you’re eight or 9 once you’re this top, then develop to 6ft tall and never have the ability to throw darts.
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“There was another wee youngster in Northern Ireland who was really small. Now he’s taller than me, about 6ft3, and his darts aren’t the same anymore.
“Everything has changed because he has to throw down the board instead of throwing up the board. Luke Littler is a good example [to follow]. He’s coped with it really well because he hasn’t changed much in height over the years. They [young players] shouldn’t rush into anything too quick.
“They’ve got so much time. Look at Peter Wright, he didn’t win the World Championship until he was almost 50. I don’t think I’ll still be playing at that age!”