Luke Littler: Josh Rock says he can challenge world champion

Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock believes he can challenge Luke Littler’s prospective dominance of professional darts in the future.

Littler won his first world title at just 17 years old at Alexandra Palace earlier this month and appears well placed to emulate the kind of unprecedented supremacy enjoyed by legendary 16-time world champion Phil Taylor during his distinguished career.

Littler’s success came 12 months after he sprung to prominence by reaching the final of the World Championship.

Rock, 23, was tipped as the next big thing in the sport when he won the 2022 World Youth Darts Championship, breaking the record for the highest average in a final with an average of 104.13.

The County Antrim man has also won a number of Players Championship events and the 2024 Dutch Darts Championship.

“I had a solid 2024 but honestly I think 2025 is going to be my year,” said Rock befor this week’s World Masters in Milton Keynes.

“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 best performance in a PDC premier event was a quarter-final appearance in the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts, which came 12 months after he became the first person to hit a televised nine-dart finish on debut at the same tournament.

“My game is there to challenge, it always has been, it just has to come out when it needs to.

“I 100 per cent believe it. There is six years between me and Luke. We can have a very long career, and I believe that me and him will dominate the sport.”

Rock is scheduled to face a qualifier in the opening round of the restructured World Masters – a tournament Littler is entering for the first time.

The 18-year-old, who has failed to win either the Bahrain Masters or the Dutch Darts Masters since triumphing in the Worlds, also faces a qualifier.