Underdog Justin Hood delivered an unforgettable performance at the PDC World Darts Championship, setting a record with 11 consecutive doubles as he secured a commanding 4-0 victory against Josh Rock in the last 16 at Alexandra Palace.
The 32-year-old debutant, competing in his first PDC tour season, maintained his incredible form throughout the match, missing his first double only when closing out the third set. Hood then sealed the match with a clinical 119 finish in the early stages of the fourth set, ensuring a career-best payout of at least £100,000—bringing him closer to his goal of opening a Chinese restaurant.
Speaking during his on-stage interview, the Bath native said, “It’s not a fairytale – I know what I can do and it’s nice to prove it up there. The only time I had a bit of nerves was just before the final leg. I’m not used to this. I usually get hate messages. This is mad.”
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Hood set the tone decisively, breaking throw in the first set and completing it in just 11 darts. His performance left the 11th seed Rock stunned, with Hood finishing on a 101 average and hitting 10 maximum 180s.
Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton solidified his position as the world number four by recovering from a set down to beat Sweden’s Andreas Harrysson in another last-16 showdown. Harrysson faltered by missing key opportunities—including four darts to regain a one-set lead—which proved costly.
Clayton reflected on his win: “There’s a lot on my mind, and moving up to world number four was one of them. Andreas was hitting doubles consistently, and it was a tough match. I didn’t play my best and had some loose darts, but that’s what pressure does to you.”
Additionally, Krzysztof Ratajski advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over Luke Woodhouse, rounding out an action-packed day in the championship.