"He wanted to be right up there with Littler, he’s getting very close": Josh Rock labelled a 'joke' by Matthew Edgar as impeccable form continues

Former professional darts player Matthew Edgar believes that the world of darts is changing, with there being more than one dominant force in the game.

With darts being more competitive than ever at the highest level, Edgar noted the depth in quality not just now, but for the future, with many bright talents ready to burst through. He believes, unlike in the past, there is no safe draw for players, or less chance at avoiding the tournament favourites.

In an interview with TalkSport, Edgar said: "I think the world of darts is changing. In the past, it was Phil Taylor—he was the man. Then Van Gerwen was the man. Who is it now? It’s Luke or Luke—it’s already split. There’s no single dominant player. And now Rock comes into that conversation. Gian van Veen too, Wessel Nijman, Gerwyn Price finding form again. You look at the draw now and there’s no 'safe' half—anyone can beat anyone. That’s the beauty of it right now—it’s unpredictable."

In the latest European Tour event, Luke Humphries tasted victory for the first time this season and the third time in Prague to seal his eighth title. It halts a period of uncertainty surrounding the world number one after he has yet to consistently find his best game when on the oche.

Edgar was on commentary duty for the tournament, and noted the relief released from the former World Champion when he lifted the title. "I think he was starting to feel the pressure and you could see that in his interview afterwards," he said. "The joy when he walked off stage—that was genuine relief, like it was his first title. On stage we all saw what it meant to him, but off stage you could see what it truly meant. I had a good chat with Luke over the weekend, spent time with him, and got some reflections after rounds. That opening night didn’t go well for him—it wasn’t the performance we expect. He was up against Dirk van Duijvenbode, missing big numbers.

"I’m a stats man, and he actually missed four big numbers in that game—missing them by a long way. He put it down to the heat, and I can back him up—it was very hot in that arena. What impressed me was how he adapted: he can’t change the environment, but he changed how he dealt with it. He put extra precautions in for the rest of the weekend. Was it his glittering best? No. But did he win a psychological battle? 100% yes. That’s what he needed going into the big part of this year."

Humphries is coming into an important period, with him having to defend multiple major titles he won two yeras agin in an incredible burst which cemented him as the best player on the planet. Edgar states his opinions on why Humphires has not hit the same levels as last year, whilst admitting he must feel under pressure.

"Absolutely. He’s used to being world number one, and now it looks inevitable he’ll come off that spot with Littler taking over. That brings pressure, because instead of looking forward, you’re checking over your shoulder. Why hasn’t he hit the same levels as last year? I just think it’s unsustainable. He was playing unreal darts. To keep that level for years—it’s not impossible, but it’s very unlikely. I think the peak era of a player now is maybe 12–18 months. Phil Taylor had three majors a year to peak for. Now we’ve got 14 Euro Tours, more majors, World Series, 34 Pro Tours. You can’t sustain that top-end level across all of it.

"Boxers fight once or twice a year to reach peak performance. Luke Humphries has about three days. If he won a title on Sunday, Monday is travel, Tuesday and Wednesday Pro Tours, then straight to Amsterdam for the World Series finals. It’s non-stop. That’s why I think players will start being more selective with their schedules to protect performance—and their work-life balance.

Josh Rock continued his positive form to get to a consecutive European Tour final, running out of steam when facing Cool Hand Luke. However, his recent showings, including a World Matchplay semi-finals, has put him in good standing, with world class performances leading him to being put in the same breacket as Humphries and Littler.

"The guy is a joke, in the best way," Edgar said. "I won’t ask 'how good is he'—we know. He’s a World Cup winner, a Matchplay semi-finalist, and he said at the start of the year he wanted to be right up there with Littler. He’s getting very close. He’s already won a Euro Tour, and it’s not a matter of if he wins a major, but when. The other question is Premier League selection—and I think he’s in right now.

"This weekend was stacked—only Gary Anderson missing from the world’s top 20. To reach the final, that’s massive. He came off stage smiling, saying, “I’ve just reached two finals, I’m not losing round one.” He should be positive about that."

When asked what major he is likely to win first, Edgar said: "I think his strength will come in week-long events—things like the Slam, the Grand Prix, or the Worlds. In one-day Euro Tours, he plays with so much adrenaline and intensity that he burns out a little as the day goes on. In week-long formats, he’ll have the time to reset and I think that suits him."

At the other end of the spectrum, it has been a catastrophic 2025 for the former Masters champion. He has dropped down the rankings and endured a tough period of results. Despite this, Edgar insists that a good 2026 with the increased prize money will get him back up the rankings.

"He’s on the border of missing certain events, which means losing ranking money. He’s usually relied on consistent results—quarter-finals, semi-finals—to stay in the top 32. But if he misses events, he’ll drop quickly. The fear factor of rankings is kicking in. But I’ll also say this: if you’re going to have a bad year, this is the year to do it, because prize money increases next year. A good year in 2026 and it’s all forgotten quickly."