🔗 Share this article

In a display that rewrote the history books, debutant Justin Hood pulled off an unheard-of feat of 11 consecutive doubles, powering his way to a dominant 4-0 victory over Josh Rock in the last 16 of the prestigious World Darts Championship.

A Dream Debut on the Grandest Arena

The 32-year-old, competing in his first ever season on the premier professional circuit, extended his remarkable tournament run. His perfect doubling streak finally concluded when he had a chance to seal the match at 2-0 up in the fourth set. Unfazed, he composed himself to secure the victory with a superb 119 checkout in the very next leg.

“This isn't a storybook – I know what I can do and it’s incredibly satisfying to prove it up there,” Hood stated in his on-stage interview. “The only time I felt any pressure was throwing the leg before the last. I’m unaccustomed to this. Usually, I get negative comments. This is absolutely insane.”

Setting the Tone with Blistering Start

Hood immediately signaled his intentions by winning the opening set with an 11-dart break. This left the higher-seeded Rock, the tournament's 11th seed, little to do but watch in amazement as Hood stormed to victory, posting a impressive 101 average and hammering 10 maximum 180s.

This record-breaking win guarantees the newcomer a life-changing payday of at least £100,000 and edges him closer to his avowed ambition of opening a Chinese restaurant.

Clayton Advances Amid Grueling Battle

In other last-16 action, Jonny Clayton solidified his ascent to the number four spot in the global rankings after engineering a fightback from a set down to defeat Andreas Harrysson 4-2.

The Swedish contender was made to regret for failing to capitalize on key opportunities, having led a 2-1 advantage and then missing four darts to re-establish a one-set lead at 3-2.

“A number of things on my mind and becoming world No. 4 was among them,” confessed Clayton. “Every time I looked up, Andreas was finding his doubles. It was a real battle; I didn’t play my best darts and had many loose throws, but that’s what pressure does to you.”

Ratajski Rolls into Quarter-Finals

Joining them in the quarter-final stage is Krzysztof Ratajski, who found an extra gear in the closing phases to secure a 4-2 win over Luke Woodhouse, earning his spot in the elite last eight of the championship.