"He squeezed me and said, ‘Josh, well done, son. I really hope you go and win this tournament’ – Josh Rock reveals Gerwyn Price’s classy post-match words

Josh Rock is into the semi-finals of the World Matchplay — and make no mistake, he’s earned every bit of it the hard way. It took the 24-year-old Northern Irishman three years just to notch a single win at the Winter Gardens. Now, he’s within touching distance of the biggest title of his career as he reflected to the media including DartsNews.

His path? Brutal. European Champion Ross Smith, three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen, and 2021 World Champion Gerwyn Price – all toppled. Next up: World Champion Luke Humphries. “If you want to win this title, you’ve got to beat the best,” Rock said in a packed post-match press conference, grinning with both relief and intent. “It only took three years to actually win one game here... now I’m in the semi-final.”

Against Gerwyn Price, it was a composed and clinical performance from Rock — highlighted by a key moment when he saw the Welshman was hitting 70% on his doubles. “When I saw that stat, I thought, ‘Josh, wake up,’” he admitted. “You know how dodgy your doubles can be. So I knew I had to be perfect — and I was.”

Rock backed up his monumental win over MVG with an even better performance, averaging 104 in a longer format. That, he says, is testament to his growing confidence on the biggest stages. “I felt more relaxed against Gezzy than Michael, to be honest,” he explained. “With Michael, you never know what version will turn up. With Gezzy, you know what you’re going to get — and that helped me focus.”

Since winning the World Cup of Darts with Daryl Gurney, Rock has been a different beast. The confidence from lifting his first major has clearly unlocked something deeper. “Two years ago, I wouldn’t have even been sat here talking about a semi-final,” he reflected. “But once you’ve won a major on TV — especially on Sky Sports, which everyone looks at as the main one — it changes everything.”
Albeit far from getting carried away, Rock remains grounded. “I know my ability, but I’m still only 24. There’s more to come.”

Next up is Luke Littler — a first-ever televised meeting between two of the sport’s brightest stars. Off the oche, the two are close friends. On it, both will be gunning for the win. “We met in Killarney, back before I even had my tour card,” Rock said. “I beat him 4-2 in a WDF short format — but that means nothing now. Since then, we’ve become really good mates. We talk almost every day.” But friendship will be parked for 30+ legs of high-stakes tungsten warfare.

“It can be hard playing a mate on such a big stage, but I hope it doesn’t affect us,” Rock admitted. “We both know what we’re capable of. On our day, we can beat anyone.” Asked whether he’ll be wary of “taking it easy” on a friend — as some accused Nathan Aspinall and Stephen Bunting of doing at the World Championship — Rock was clear. "No chance. If anything, there’ll be fireworks. We both want it bad.”

Unusually, the match against Price saw little in the way of on-stage antics or celebration. Was that deliberate? “I kept it in, and I think Gezzy did too,” Rock said. “We’ve played each other a lot this year. Maybe he saw my last interview and knew if he gave it large, I’d feed off it. He gave it twice — and I won the next leg both times.”

That mutual respect was on full display at the end. “He squeezed me and said, ‘Josh, well done, son. I really hope you go and win this.’ That meant a lot. He didn’t have to say that.”

This wasn't always the Josh Rock we see now — composed, resilient, and clinical in front of the cameras. He recalled the 2021 Grand Slam, when a strong position against James Wade slipped away. “Back then, I was scared to win,” he said frankly. “Now? I feed off it. I’ve had semi-finals, a World Cup win. I’m not afraid anymore.”

Should he go on to lift the title on Sunday, he’ll become the youngest ever World Matchplay champion — overtaking Wade in the record books. “I’m not thinking about that right now,” Rock said. “But yeah, fingers crossed.”

It’s clear something has changed — mentally, emotionally, and professionally. Married in January and now a father of two, Rock credits his family, management, and sponsor Target with helping him find stability. “I was wearing a Target shirt when I was 12, dreaming of this. Now I’m sponsored by them — it’s emotional,” he shared. “Garry Plummer, Rab — they’ve helped me so much. I’m in the best place I’ve ever been.”

His preparation on match day? A sauna, swim, and a moment of calm with his opponent. “Gezzy was there too,” he laughed. “I said, ‘I’ll see you tonight.’” And he certainly did — and then beat him.

What’s next? A semi-final showdown with Littler, one of the most anticipated clashes of the season. If both play to their potential, as Rock put it: “That’s the plan — an all-time classic.”