"I'd love to be the first Northern Irish world champion" – Josh Rock dreaming big amid career-best form

Josh Rock has never been one to shy away from big statements. Earlier this year, the 24-year-old from Ballymena predicted he and Luke Littler would dominate darts for years to come. Some may have scoffed at the idea at the time, but now, with a World Cup win, a World Matchplay semi-final and back-to-back European Tour finals under his belt, Rock looks every bit the rising force he promised to be.

And the dream, he says, could not be clearer: becoming Northern Ireland’s first world champion.

“I do believe I will be a world champion one day,” Rock told TalkSport Darts. “I’d love to be the first world champion for Northern Ireland. That’s my dream. Obviously, I hope it’s this year, but if not, I’ll keep working and when the time’s right, it’ll happen.”

Rock’s surge up the PDC rankings has been defined by a knack for producing on the biggest stages. From the 171 setup shot in the World Cup before Daryl Gurney’s match-winning shot, to the outrageous 161 at the Matchplay, his highlight reel is growing by the week.

“It’s all about timing,” Rock said. “With the 161 I nearly miscounted, because they had just hit 124 to leave tops. I thought I had 124 left! Then ref called 161, I hit the treble 20 sweet as a nut, and that’s why I stood back. Normally I’d just go bang-bang, but I went: ‘Oh dear, I do have 161.’ Then treble, treble, bull. It’s about having the bottle in the moment.”

That self-belief is mirrored in his heavy scoring. For Rock, there’s no hidden science behind his treble 20 hitting – just a natural flow. “I look at the treble 20,” he explained. “A lot of players aim above because their darts drop, but mine don’t as much. I’ve got a good cover on 19s too. I just focus on the target and hit it.”

Confidence isn’t limited to the oche. Rock relishes the theatre of the big walk-ons, sprinting up the Euro Tour steps with the energy of a man who can’t wait to get started. “I just do it because it hypes me up,” he laughed. “I don’t do it at Ally Pally or the Matchplay because the steps are wider, but on the European Tour they’re smaller so I run up. Humphries does it, Rob Cross does it, Gezzy sometimes. It just gets you buzzing.”

That enthusiasm carries onto the stage itself. “Every time I step on, I feel at home,” Rock said. “I’m really enjoying my darts this year, and that’s why the results are going the way they are.”

Talk of a first major inevitably circles back to timing. Matthew Edgar recently tipped Rock to land silverware before 2026, but the man himself isn’t putting strict deadlines on success. “Things happen for a reason,” he insisted. “When the time’s right, it’ll be right. Obviously I hope it’s this year, but if not, I’ll win more next year. I just believe in myself.”

That belief extends to darts’ biggest prize. “I would love to be the first world champion from Northern Ireland,” Rock repeated. “It would mean everything.”

What began as a bold claim in January – Rock telling his management that he and Luke Littler would dominate the sport – is now looking more like prophecy. Luke Humphries himself has said the future belongs to the pair, with Rock determined to make it a trio. “I’d love to be part of that,” Rock said. “If I keep doing what I’m doing, I don’t see why not.”

One question continues to follow Rock around: the Premier League. With every impressive result, the clamour for his inclusion in 2026 grows louder – particularly from fans back home. “To be part of Belfast in the Premier League would be an absolute dream come true,” he admitted. “When I was on stage collecting the Best Newcomer and Best Young Player awards in Belfast, my heart kind of stopped. To play there in the Premier League would mean the world. Whether it’s once, ten, or twenty times, it’d feel just as special.”

For all the hype, Rock remains grounded. Friends and fellow players describe him as “just a normal lad from Ballymena,” and he’s happy with that label. “I’m one of the boys,” he said. “I enjoy a night out, I enjoy golf, darts, snooker, pool, football. I don’t just sit in my hotel room 24 hours waiting for the next game.”

Josh Rock doesn’t just want to win titles. He wants to rewrite history for Northern Irish darts. And, judging by his current trajectory, it feels less a question of if, and more of when. “When the time’s right, the time’s right,” Rock said. “But I do believe I’ll be world champion one day.”