Josh Rock is having the second breakout season of his professional darts career as the Northern Irishman closes in on what he believes will be his first PDC major title.
The 2022 World Youth Champion had set high expectations for his career trajectory when he followed up this title with a run to the quarter-final of the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts.
Notably, hitting a nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen in the process.
Earlier this week, MVG spoke about Josh Rock and believed he was missing ‘one thing’ that was holding him back from winning a PDC major title.
See more – Michael van Gerwen believes Josh Rock isn’t winning major titles because he’s missing ‘one thing’
After a disappointing campaign in 2024 where Rock failed to make the latter stages of a PDC major tournament, he stepped up multiple gears in 2025.
Three semi-final finishes at the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Series of Darts Finals. Two quarter-final finishes at the Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals, and a non-ranking title at the PDC World Cup of Darts.
Darts fans and commentators believe Rock is a future major winner and he has now stated that there’s only ‘fine margins’ separating him from the likes of world number one and world champion, Luke Littler…
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Josh Rock on Luke Littler Rivalry
The 2025 World Matchplay semi-final is what really boosted Josh Rock into the media limelight this year after his part in one of the greatest darts legs of all time against Luke Littler.
Rock lost narrowly to Littler 17-14 and this is the game that had darts fans predicting this to be long-term darts rivalry for the two youngsters.
Speaking to talkSPORT darts for the PDC Media Day, Rock was asked what the ‘something extra’ is that he needs to find to beat the likes of Luke Littler. He responded:
“Maybe just come the crucial moments, obviously it comes down to the double and you’ve two darts in hand and you pin it instead of obviously missing.
“There’s just those fine margins where he’s winning and I’m not.
“I know where I have to improve, obviously in the moment it’s a lot different but it’ll come good.”
Similar to Rock, Gian van Veen is a World Youth Champion and had also been tipped for a PDC major title.
At the 2025 European Championship, the young Dutchman was able to beat Luke Littler in the final and lift his first major title.
While Rock states there is only a fine margin between himself and the likes of Luke Littler, he still believes a major title is coming…
Josh Rock Believes He Isn’t ‘Too Far’ Away From Major Title
Of the three players, Luke Littler and Gian van Veen are both recent youth champions AND PDC major title winners.
Rock is the third of that trio dubbed ‘the next generation’ and while he’s secured the youth title, he’s still hunting for his first individual major title (excluding the World Cup of Darts).
In the same interview, Rock was asked how far away he thinks he is from winning a big major title and said:
“I don’t think I’m too far away from winning a major but obviously if I won the worlds [World Championship] as my first major I’d be absolutely delighted and I’d be happy with that.”
Rock is going into the 2026 World Championship as one of the favourites behind Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price.
Bookmakers have him level on odds with Gian van Veen and more of a favourite than three-time winner Michael van Gerwen.
It would be a big step up for the young Northern Irishman but he believes he still has the ability to go up a gear in darts…
You can see his full interview below where he also talk Premier League talk and trying to find a new walk-on:
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