By:
Joe Lyons
Josh Rock continues to chase his dream of playing in the Premier League ahead of the upcoming World Championship.
The Antrim native has enjoyed a phenomenal year in 2025, breaking out as one of the top players on the circuit with big statements in major events.
Reaching the semi-final in the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Series Finals as well as the quarter-final of the Grand Slam, Rock has climbed to 11th place on the PDC Order of Merit.
He broke into the top ten for the first time in his career but crashing out in round two of the World Grand Prix and round one of the European Championship stunted his ascension.
Eight names compete in the Premier League each year, the first four automatically qualify through rankings and the remaining spots are hand-picked by the PDC.
Rock has arguably already done enough to secure his place in the field and could bolster that position with a strong performance at Alexandra Palace this Christmas.
There are only three players with shorter odds than Rock to win the World Championship – reigning champion Luke Littler, 2024 winner Luke Humphries and recent European Championship hero Gian van Veen.
After beating Rock in the final of the Czech Open, Humphries named him alongside Littler as the future of darts.
Rock burst onto the scene in 2022 at the Grand Slam, making headlines with his first televised nine-dart finish in the last 16 against Michael van Gerwen.
Hailed as the next big thing, the Northern Irishman somewhat struggled to live up to that reputation initially but his impressive talent was always crystal clear and it wouldn’t be long before he began to consistently show that ability on stage.
Rock helped Northern Ireland to win a maiden World Cup of Darts title alongside Daryl Gurney back in June and the 24-year-old is blossoming into one of the hottest names in the sport.
Over the last year only Littler (100.89) and Humphries (98.47) have record a higher three-dart average than Rock (98.13).
His 582 maximums rank sixth, first nine averages rank third and average against the throw is 100.55 – bettered by only Littler (102.68).
Will Josh Rock play in the Premier League?
Rock has done his best to downplay any Premier League talk this year, insisting it’s not up to him to decide who competes in it but if the PDC believe he’s good enough then “happy days.”
A good Premier League player is one with entertaining flair, strong charisma and the consistent quality to back it up which Rock has displayed in abundance.
At this stage barring any accidents he looks a shoo-in for the Premier League, a tournament played weekly from February to May with a prize fund of over £1 million considered part of the sport’s Triple Crown.
You can only imagine how incredible the atmosphere inside Belfast’s SSE Arena would be next February if Rock was in the line-up in front of his home crowd.
Rock said in September: “Until I get into the Premier League, I’ll never class myself as an elite player.”
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