"I believe I can go up there and make quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals — and win" - Only way is forward for Josh Rock as he distances himself from past setbacks

Josh Rock is one of the favourites to compete for the PDC World Darts Championship title. The Northern Irishman has enjoyed a hugely successful year on tour and is now envisioning a run to the final and the possibility of becoming world champion.

Rock has been ramping up his preparations for the World Championship at Cheltenham Racecourse for an exhibition event, where he was enjoying himself against some high calibre opponents. "Oh it’s fantastic. It’s great to be a part of these exhibitions week in, week out with Jason and the team," he told Online Darts. "They always put on a good show, so it’s good to be part of it. You’ve got world number two Luke Humphries here, you’ve got Stephen Bunting, Steve Beaton, young Jaden Walker who’s up and coming now too. You can’t get any better preparation."

When asked if he watched the draw, Rock answered: "Yeah, I did. Whoever you get is whoever you get, but I’m happy enough with my draw. If I perform, I perform — hopefully I go all the way."

He was drawn against debutant Gemma Hayter, which turned out to be a nervous wait with him being one of the last players to find out his tie. While it may prove to be a tough match, 'Rocky' was relieved to miss out on two specific players: Beau Greaves and Paul Lim. 'Yeah. They all said the same — you didn’t want Beau or Paul in the first round, and I agreed. It was getting nitty gritty towards the end and then they pulled out the number Gemma was there for, and I went, “Well at least it’s not Beau first round.' I know I can beat her, she knows she can beat me, but the first game of the Worlds is the most pressurised game of the whole tournament. I watched the end with my eyes closed!"

It has been a brilliant year for Rock. After all the hype as a youngster, he is now regularly performing at the highest levels. He was fantastic partnered up with Daryl Gurney in Frankfurt enroute to winning the World Cup for Northern Ireland, and on top of that has reached three major semi-finals, including the World Matchplay.

All of this leaves him in the perfect position to continue his great form at the biggest tournament of them all. "Yeah, big time. I said that in Manhattan too," Rock exclaimed, sharing his excitement for the event. "This is my fourth year in the PDC and this is the year I’ve looked forward to the Worlds the most. All the stuff from the past is gone now. I believe I can go up there and make quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals — and win."

It was a tough period for Rock after he emerged onto the PDC. Now, he has finally managed to come out a better player. "I don’t think it was the press that affected me," Rock stated. "You know what was going on behind the scenes — it was more that. I was going into every tournament thinking about it. Now it’s all done and dusted. I wouldn’t blame the press — it was the other stuff."

Now, he welcomes the pressure of people predicting him to lift the Sid Waddell trophy. "I want to be on the radar. I want to win every title I can. I haven’t won anything individually yet, but when the time’s right, I’m looking forward to it."

For young darters looking for a pathway into the sports elite, there are not many better examples than Rock. The 24-year-old offered some advice of his own. "I’ve spoken to a couple of young kids back home. When it comes to managers and stuff — don’t rush into it. Enjoy it," he advised. "I was speaking to young Jaden — he’s been around the scene a long time and he’s got Jason behind him, a fantastic manager. Young kids just need to learn their trade, enjoy it, and not get frustrated. Darts is for enjoyment, not a job."

Fortunately for Rock, he was always a quick learner. "I learned at a very young age. Growing up in pubs with my dad playing in leagues, then county leagues — I matured quickly. A lot of kids are doing the same now."

His recent form has intertwined with shouts of him being inducted into the Premier League of Darts for the first time. It would be a deserving spot for Rock, but there is a lot of pressure to perform at the worlds due to the heavy influx of competition fighting for those eight spots.

"I’m ready for it all. I want it all. But it’s not my decision — if I get picked, I get picked. I’m one million percent ready," Rock said. "That’s what I’m made for. When I get that first title — when the time’s right — I can’t wait."

This would come with the chance of competing on the big stage in front of a home crowd in Belfast. It would be an emotional night for the man from County Antrim. "I still call it the Odyssey — even though it’s not anymore. If I ever get to play Premier League in Belfast, I might need to wear a mask because I’d get emotional."

Away from the oche, Rock is just a normal person. "Everyone just knows me as Josh. They’ve known my dad for years and known me since I was young. But when me and my wife went to the Belfast Christmas Market, I got hounded! It’s nice though — I’m grateful for it." This can be a pain for Rock's wife. "Sometimes she’s like, 'Here we go again…' but most of the time she’s fine. If it’s when we’re having a meal or a drink, she’ll roll her eyes!"

This is something that his kids may not understand yet. "My oldest is my son — he’s autistic, so he just knows if I’m not in the house I’m 'at work.' My youngest, she’s my princess — as soon as I come home she’s straight to me."

He is very grateful for his wife for making his life away from home a lot easier. With being one of the best darters in the world comes a lot of time away from home and family. "As long as you have a strong woman behind you, you’re okay. My wife grew up with her dad working abroad in the gold mines in Senegal, so she’s used to someone being away. It doesn’t bother her. Makes life a lot easier. The kids have the best mum in the world, so when I’m away, they’re fine," he concluded.