Josh Rock could only top his World Cup of Darts triumph with the unthinkable – defeating old friend and rival Luke Littler to the World Darts Championship. The Northern Irishman has enjoyed a stellar 2025 season, winning the prestigious duo title alongside teammate Daryl Gurney, bringing the cup back to his country for the first time ever.
The Northern Ireland team defeated Wales – a team which included Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price – 10-9 to secure victory. Revelling in his country’s win, Rock said: “We’ve made history for Northern Ireland and we’re so proud as a team. As a team we were fantastic and we fought hard all the way through.”
In his solo career, Rocky has made some top finals this year but his Achilles heel continues to be a close friend.The 24-year-old made the semi-finals of the 2025 World Matchplay and the final of the 2025 Flanders Darts Trophy, only to be bested by Littler on both occasions.
This interesting friendship-turned-rivalry has kept fans hooked from the first time the pair squared off in the World Matchplay. The Nuke is 3-0 against Rock but he has definitely been rattled by the 2022 World Youth Championship winner.
And Littler showed his true colours and competitive edge when speaking before the pair faced off in the Grand Slam of Darts, as he insisted: “No-one’s friends on stage. You’re on your own up there. You’ve got to do your job. Backstage we’ll always chat, we’ll always have a laugh. But once we’re on stage then we’re enemies and we’ve got to do our job.”
Rock echoed this sentiment when it came to no love lost on the oche, admitting he enjoys “giving it large” to his opponent when he’s on top. The darts star said: “I’ll give it large if I’m well ahead. I’m not like that, everybody knows that.
“If I’m a good bit ahead and I feel it needs to be done, I’ll do it. If I’m still ahead and there’s no need to do it, there’s no need to do it.”
This match was one for the ages, with Littler coming back from 9-6 down to defeat Rock 16-12 and eventually lift the trophy. This continued series of defeats to the world number one will be on Rock’s mind as he heads into his fourth appearance on the biggest stage of all.
So far this season, a World Cup win and a Players Championship trophy are already in Rock’s locker and he will be aiming for a first ever world championship win at the Ally Pally. The 24-year-old has made some big changes in his life this year, including dropping some weight to shape up for the biggest event of the season in December.
Reflecting on his lifestyle change, Rock said: “I was too fat. I knew I had to change something in my life, and now I’ve done it. Nine weeks I’ve been on it and I’ve lost two stone, two and a half pounds. When I joined the PDC, I was a skinny young boy – now I was turning into a fat boy. I had to make a change behind the scenes.”
In terms of form, Rocky is heading into the Ally Pally in a strong position. He has reached the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, UK Open and World Series of Darts Finals this year and sits at number 11 in the PDC world rankings.
Rocky is also hitting an average of 98 in matches and has hit six nine-darters, with his highest average coming in at around 122. The young darts star relishes a crowd and is likely to be buzzing to return to the Ally Pally in December.
Speaking on his love for a passionate audience, Rocky said: “I love always trying to get a crowd on my side. I love playing with a crowd. I hate playing in silence but I have to do it on the pro tours and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
With a few wins under his belt and some serious silverware to show, Rocky will be heading into the World Darts Championship with something to prove – and it’s likely he will encounter an old foe at some point to do so.
