Joshua Rock (born 13 April 2001) is a Northern Irish professional
darts
Darts is a competitive sport in which two or more players bare-handedly throw small projectile point, sharp-pointed projectile, projectiles known as dart (missile), darts at a round shooting target, target known as a #Dartboard, dartboard.
Point ...
player who competes in
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is a professional darts organisation in the United Kingdom, established in 1992 when a group of leading players split from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) to form what was initially called the Wor ...
(PDC) events, where he is currently ranked
world number seventeen. Nicknamed "Rocky", he has been a
PDC Tour Card
The PDC Pro Tour is a series of non-televised darts tournaments organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). They comprise Professional Dart Players Association (PDPA) Players Championships and European Tour events. Only four players ...
holder since 2022. He won his first
European Tour
The European Tour, currently titled as the DP World Tour for sponsorship reasons, and legally the PGA European Tour or the European Tour Group, is the leading men's professional golf tour in Europe. The organisation also operates the European ...
title at the
2024 Dutch Darts Championship and has won six PDC titles in his professional career. He reached his first PDC major semi-final at the
2025 UK Open. Rock won the
PDC World Cup of Darts For the current edition see 2025 PDC World Cup of Darts
The PDC World Cup of Darts is a team darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation, and was one of the three new tournaments introduced into the PDC calendar in 2010. It i ...
in
2025
So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
, representing
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
alongside
Daryl Gurney
Daryl Gurney (born 22 March 1986) is a Northern Irish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number twenty-five; he reached a peak ranking of world number thre ...
.
In his youth career, Rock won the
2022 PDC World Youth Championship
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is a professional darts organisation in the United Kingdom, established in 1992 when a group of leading players split from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) to form what was initially called the Wor ...
, along with five
Development Tours. He became the first debutant to throw a televised
nine-dart finish
A nine-dart finish, also known as a nine-darter, is a perfect leg or single game in the sport of darts. The object of the game is to score a set number of points, most commonly 501; in order to win, a player must reach the target total exactly a ...
at the
Grand Slam of Darts
The Grand Slam of Darts is a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation and is known as the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts for sponsorship purposes. The PDC used to invite the best performing players from its rival, the Briti ...
, achieving the feat against
Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen (; born 25 April 1989) is a Dutch professional darts player, who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number three; he was ranked world number one from 20 ...
at the
2022 event.
Career
2022
In January 2022, Rock attended
PDC Pro Tour Qualifying School. He won a
PDC Tour Card
The PDC Pro Tour is a series of non-televised darts tournaments organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). They comprise Professional Dart Players Association (PDPA) Players Championships and European Tour events. Only four players ...
by defeating
Nathan Rafferty in the Final Stage Day Four final.
He topped the
Development Tour Order of Merit, winning five events. In November, Rock achieved his first televised
nine-dart finish
A nine-dart finish, also known as a nine-darter, is a perfect leg or single game in the sport of darts. The object of the game is to score a set number of points, most commonly 501; in order to win, a player must reach the target total exactly a ...
in the last 16 of the
2022 Grand Slam of Darts
The 2022 Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts, was the sixteenth staging of the Grand Slam of Darts, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The event took place at the Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton, 12–20 November 2022.
Gerwyn Price w ...
, in an eventual 10–8 defeat to
Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen (; born 25 April 1989) is a Dutch professional darts player, who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number three; he was ranked world number one from 20 ...
. Later that month, Rock won the
PDC World Youth Championship by beating
Nathan Girvan
Nathan Girvan (born 6 November 2002) is a Scottish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He reached the final of the 2017 BDO World Youth Darts Championship and also in 2019.
Career
In 2016, Gi ...
6–1 with an average of 104.13, a record for a World Youth final.
2023
In his debut at the
2023 World Championship, Rock beat
José Justicia
José Antonio Justicia Perales (born 6 January 1989) is a Spanish darts player.
Career
Justicia started his career in 2009 and participated in PDPA Players Championship events in Gibraltar and Nuland. At the end of the year, he attempted to qu ...
,
Callan Rydz
Callan Rydz ( born 3 July 1998) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.
Rydz topped the 2019 PDC Challenge Tour Order of Merit, which earned him his PDC Tour Card he has held since 2020 ...
and
Nathan Aspinall
Nathan Aspinall (born 15 July 1991) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number six; he reached a peak ranking of world number ...
before losing 4–3 to
Jonny Clayton
Jonny Clayton (born 4 October 1974) is a Welsh professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number five. Nicknamed "the Ferret", he has won four PDC major televised s ...
in the fourth round.
On the
2023 PDC Pro Tour
The 2023 PDC Pro Tour was a series of non-televised darts tournaments organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Players Championships and European Tour events are the events that make up the Pro Tour. There were thirty Players Champion ...
, Rock reached the final of four
Players Championship events and the Austrian Darts Open.
At the
2023 Grand Slam of Darts
The 2023 Grand Slam of Darts (known for sponsorship reasons as the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts) was the seventeenth staging of the Grand Slam of Darts, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The event took place at the Aldersley Leisure ...
, Rock won Group B with wins against
Chris Dobey
Christopher Dobey (born 31 May 1990) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number seven; he reached a peak ranking of world number six in 2025. A ...
,
Jonny Clayton
Jonny Clayton (born 4 October 1974) is a Welsh professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number five. Nicknamed "the Ferret", he has won four PDC major televised s ...
and
Berry van Peer
Berry van Peer (born 23 August 1996) is a Dutch darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He formerly competed in World Darts Federation (WDF) events, winning his first WDF major title at the 2023 Dutch Open and ...
and reached the quarter finals with a 10–5 win over
Krzysztof Ratajski
Krzysztof Ratajski (Polish pronunciation: ; born 1 January 1977) is a Polish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He previously participated in British Darts Organisation (BDO) tournaments; his b ...
. Rock lost in his quarter-final match 16–15 to
James Wade
James Martin Wade (born 6 April 1983) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number nine; he reached a peak ranking of world number two in 2010. ...
.
2024
At the
2024 World Championship, Rock suffered a shock 3–1 second-round defeat to
Berry van Peer
Berry van Peer (born 23 August 1996) is a Dutch darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He formerly competed in World Darts Federation (WDF) events, winning his first WDF major title at the 2023 Dutch Open and ...
. On the
2024 PDC Pro Tour
The 2024 PDC Pro Tour was a series of non-televised darts tournaments organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Players Championships and European Tour events are the events that make up the Pro Tour. There were thirty Players Cham ...
, Rock reached the final of
Players Championship 7, but lost to
Chris Dobey
Christopher Dobey (born 31 May 1990) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number seven; he reached a peak ranking of world number six in 2025. A ...
8–4.
However, in May, Rock won his first
PDC European Tour
The PDC European Tour is a series of darts tournaments held across Europe organized by the Professional Darts Corporation. Starting in 2012 with five events, the number of events has steadily risen with eight held in 2013 and 2014, nine in 2015, 10 ...
title; he beat
Jonny Clayton
Jonny Clayton (born 4 October 1974) is a Welsh professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number five. Nicknamed "the Ferret", he has won four PDC major televised s ...
8–4 in the final of the
Dutch Darts Championship. Rock added two more Players Championship titles at events 17 and 30.
Rock represented
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
in the
PDC World Cup of Darts For the current edition see 2025 PDC World Cup of Darts
The PDC World Cup of Darts is a team darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation, and was one of the three new tournaments introduced into the PDC calendar in 2010. It i ...
for the first time at the
2024 edition, serving as team captain and partnering
Brendan Dolan
Brendan Gabriel Dolan (born 2 August 1973) is a Northern Irish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He was the first player to hit a nine-dart finish in a "double-to-start" event (where a pla ...
. They reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they were defeated 8–4 by eventual champions
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
.
2025
At the
2025 World Championship, Rock reached the third round where he was eliminated in a 4–2 defeat to
Chris Dobey
Christopher Dobey (born 31 May 1990) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number seven; he reached a peak ranking of world number six in 2025. A ...
. Following the tournament, he signed a deal with darts manufacturer Target Darts and claimed that he and new Target stablemate
Luke Littler
Luke Littler (born 21 January 2007) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number two. Nicknamed "the Nuke", Littler is the rei ...
could "dominate the sport for years to come." At the
UK Open
The Ladbrokes UK Open is a ranking major darts tournament held annually at the Butlins Minehead Resort by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) in England. The event is often referred to as the "FA Cup of darts" as it has an unseeded open dr ...
, Rock reached his first PDC major semi-final after a 10–7 victory over
Nathan Aspinall
Nathan Aspinall (born 15 July 1991) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number six; he reached a peak ranking of world number ...
in the quarter-finals, but lost 11–2 to
James Wade
James Martin Wade (born 6 April 1983) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number nine; he reached a peak ranking of world number two in 2010. ...
. He won his first title of the year – his fifth
Pro Tour title – at
Players Championship 10, defeating
Cameron Menzies
Cameron Menzies (born 27 June 1989) is a Scottish darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.
A PDC Tour Card holder since 2022, Menzies has won two PDC ranking titles in Players Championship events. He reached hi ...
8–4 in the final.
Rock and teammate
Daryl Gurney
Daryl Gurney (born 22 March 1986) is a Northern Irish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number twenty-five; he reached a peak ranking of world number thre ...
won the
World Cup of Darts For the current edition see 2025 PDC World Cup of Darts
The PDC World Cup of Darts is a team darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation, and was one of the three new tournaments introduced into the PDC calendar in 2010. It is ...
for
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
for the first time, defeating
Jonny Clayton
Jonny Clayton (born 4 October 1974) is a Welsh professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number five. Nicknamed "the Ferret", he has won four PDC major televised s ...
and
Gerwyn Price
Gerwyn Price (born 7 March 1985) is a Welsh professional darts player and former professional rugby union and rugby league player. He competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world ...
of Wales 10–9 in a deciding leg. He broke the record for most
maximums (180s) hit in a World Cup final with nine.
Personal life
Rock married his wife Sarah in January 2025, two days before competing at the
2025 PDC World Masters
The 2025 PDC World Masters (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2025 Winmau World Masters) was a professional darts tournament that took place at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England, from 30 January to 2 February 2025. It was the 13 ...
. He is a supporter of Scottish football club
Rangers
A ranger is typically someone in a law enforcement or military/paramilitary role specializing in patrolling a given territory, called "ranging" or "scouting". The term most often refers to:
* Park ranger or forest ranger, a person charged with prot ...
and local side
Ballymena United
Ballymena United Football Club is a semi-professional football club from Northern Ireland. Based in Ballymena, County Antrim, the team competes in the NIFL Premiership and plays home matches at the Ballymena Showgrounds. The club has been man ...
; he was primary and secondary schoolmates with Northern Irish footballer
Ross McCausland.
World Championship results
PDC
* 2023: Fourth round (lost to
Jonny Clayton
Jonny Clayton (born 4 October 1974) is a Welsh professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number five. Nicknamed "the Ferret", he has won four PDC major televised s ...
3–4)
* 2024: Second round (lost to
Berry van Peer
Berry van Peer (born 23 August 1996) is a Dutch darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He formerly competed in World Darts Federation (WDF) events, winning his first WDF major title at the 2023 Dutch Open and ...
1–3)
* 2025: Third round (lost to
Chris Dobey
Christopher Dobey (born 31 May 1990) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number seven; he reached a peak ranking of world number six in 2025. A ...
2–4)
Career finals
PDC team finals: 1 (1 title)
Performance timeline
PDC European Tour
PDC Players Championships
Nine-dart finishes
Notes
References
External links
Josh Rock player profile at Darts Orakel*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rock, Josh
2001 births
Living people
Professional Darts Corporation current tour card holders
PDC world youth champions
PDC World Cup of Darts Northern Irish championship team
Sportspeople from Antrim, County Antrim
Darts players from Northern Ireland
People from Broughshane
Darts players who have thrown televised nine-dart games
PDC ranking title winners