“I feel dreadful... That was horrendous" - Josh Rock sets up Grand Slam showdown with Luke Littler but knows improvement is needed

Josh Rock scraped his way into the quarterfinals of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts after edging past Connor Scutt 10–9 in a tense last-16 clash. The Northern Irishman never came close to his best, dipped under the 90 average, yet survived. His reward is a showdown with Luke Littler.

“I feel dreadful,” Rock admitted after the match. “I didn’t play my game at all. I couldn’t find my rhythm until the last leg. I feel sorry for Connor because he played phenomenal in patches. Last leg I finally kicked off with the 180 and got the double in the end, but I’m disappointed because I didn’t perform the way I know I can. That was horrendous.”

There was no hiding the fact he needed a slice of fortune to get over the line. “Sometimes you need luck to win these games and thankfully I’m still here in the quarterfinal,” he said. “Connor didn’t play to his full potential either, but I’m grateful I’m still standing here now.”

This marks Rock’s fifth major quarterfinal of 2025, yet he insists he isn’t weighed down by expectation. “No, because I’m only 24. I’ve got a long time ahead in this game. There’s a lot of young ones coming through nowadays, but that doesn’t add pressure. I could have thirty years in this sport if I want.”

Rock didn’t disguise how much his performance annoyed him. “I was very frustrated and kept kicking myself up on that stage. I tried to adjust and they just weren’t going into the treble. They were going well above it or an inch and a half below it and you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness.’”

Even so, he managed to hang in. “You just have to dig deep and believe in your ability. Luckily I did. That’s why when I had the treble 16 I wasn’t even going for double 12 again because double 12’s been my nemesis this tournament. It cost me the first game that I didn’t win against Wessel. I switched to 16s straight away.”

Despite the scrappy nature of the win, Rock feels he’s a very different animal to the teenager who debuted three years ago. “Josh Rock’s a big difference these days apart from tonight,” he joked. “It was luck because Connor was hitting the right things at the right time and just sadly didn’t kick off in the last leg the way he knows he can.”

The key moment came with that final-leg 180. “It did give me an advantage. I’d kicked off with a ton and finally found the treble in the last leg, but you don’t want to find it in the last leg, you want it from the start. Luckily I’ve got a longer format on Saturday against either Wessel or Luke.”

Rock knows what that Littler matchup could mean if it materialises. “If we keep having good battles, I’d rather have him there because I might wake up a bit. It doesn’t matter who you play next because it’s going to be fair regardless.”

He even sees the potential of a long-term rivalry. “I’d love it to be like that. Luke’s a good friend and a rivalry would just make it more exciting.”

Rock also highlighted how dangerous emerging players can be. “It’s probably harder playing players who are only breaking through because you don’t know what to expect. When you go and play Michael van Gerwen you know what to expect. He’ll have 105 averages easy. With Connor, you know you’ll get respect, but you don’t know what’s coming.”

He pointed to talent rising from other systems too, including the WDF. “There’s a Scottish boy, Mitchell Lawrie, playing for Target. Kids like that aren’t scared. It’s great. There’s no pressure on me because I’ve got years ahead.”

Winning the World Cup hasn’t put weight on his shoulders either. “No, it doesn’t add pressure. It shows me I can win. My focus is on my game and improving myself.”

Those experiences clearly helped him steady himself in the last 16. “After a difficult first ten legs, that second break was massively needed. I stormed off the stage, gave myself a kick in the backside to wake up. I went 8-5 up, then he came back, but luckily I got the last leg.”

Rock now turns his attention to Saturday. “It’s going to be a cracking match. Hopefully I perform better. I need to control my emotions and be ready.”