"One more pairs event, you’re not allowed to pick your own World Cup partner" - Josh Rock calls for change on the PDC calendar

Josh Rock has floated a striking idea that could seriously shake up the international darts calendar. The 24-year-old Northern Irishman, better known as ‘Rocky’, is advocating an extra pairs tournament on the PDC Tour, but with a notable twist. Players would be allowed to choose their own partner, just not their regular World Cup of Darts teammate.

The proposal emerged when Rock was asked whether he would like to see more pairs formats on the calendar. His answer was clear: “One more pairs event where you can pick your own partner. Blind pairs," he told TalkSport. “When I said pick your own partner, I meant you’re not allowed to pick your own World Cup partner because that's a disadvantage."

That would mean the established national duos from the World Cup of Darts would be split up for this new event. Combinations like Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, or Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, would therefore not be allowed to team up again. Rock himself also wouldn’t be able to line up with his regular Northern Irish partner Daryl Gurney.

Rock knows better than anyone how special a pairs tournament can be. Last year he enjoyed the biggest success of his still-young career by winning the World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland together with Gurney. In a nerve-racking final, Wales were beaten 10-9, a historic first title for the country.

That victory marked a breakthrough at the very highest level. Since then, Rock has become a mainstay on the PDC Tour and has climbed to ninth in the world rankings. He also made his mark at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship. He reached the fourth round, where he was eventually knocked out by Justin Hood.

Rock is currently competing in Premier League Darts, a competition he dreamed of as a child. As an 11-year-old, he sat in the crowd in Belfast watching his idol Gary Anderson, who would later win two Premier League titles.

That moment has now become reality. Still, he endured a nerve-racking lead-up to his selection. “If I didn’t get the Prem this year, I might not have been up for it the same (in the future) because I knew I worked hard to get into the Prem," he says. “I would have been heartbroken if I didn’t get it."

His emotion was immense. “My hands and my whole body started shaking, it was a dream come true.”

Sportingly, his Premier League campaign has been difficult so far. In Newcastle, Antwerp, Glasgow, and Belfast he went out in the quarterfinals each time. Even so, he remains combative. With plenty of weeks still to play, Rock believes he can claim his first nightly win.

The proposal for an extra pairs tournament fits a broader trend in which the PDC is seeking innovation and entertainment. Pairs darts captures the imagination, especially when established partnerships are broken up and new alliances emerge.

Such an event would undoubtedly appeal to Dutch and Belgian fans as well. It creates space for surprise duos and fresh storylines. Moreover, with this idea, Rock shows that he is not only ambitious on the oche but also thinking along about the sport’s future.

If the PDC seriously considers the plan, it could well become one of the most talked-about additions to the darts calendar in the coming years.