🔗 Share this article

In a display that rewrote the history books, debutant Justin Hood pulled off an unheard-of feat of 11 consecutive doubles, blasting his way to a commanding 4-0 victory over Josh Rock in the third round of the elite World Darts Championship.

A Dream Debut on the Grandest Arena

The 32-year-old, competing in his maiden season on the top-tier professional circuit, continued his remarkable tournament run. His perfect doubling streak only ended when he was throwing to seal the match at 2-0 up in the fourth set. Unfazed, he composed himself to secure the victory with a spectacular 119 checkout in the very next leg.

“This isn't a storybook – I am fully aware of what I can do and it’s nice to prove it up there,” Hood remarked in his post-match interview. “The only time I felt any pressure was on my throw the leg before the last. I’m not used to this. Ordinarily, I get hate messages. This is mad.”

Setting the Tone with Blistering Start

Hood sent an early message about his formidable challenge by winning the opening set with an 11-dart break. This left the higher-seeded Rock, the tournament's number 11, powerless but watch in amazement as Hood stormed to victory, posting a formidable 101 average and hammering 10 maximum 180s.

This historic win ensures the newcomer a career-best payday of at least £100,000 and brings him closer to his avowed ambition of launching a Chinese restaurant.

Clayton Climbs Amid Grueling Battle

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

The Swedish contender ultimately paid the price for failing to capitalize on key opportunities, after establishing a 2-1 advantage and subsequently wasting four darts to re-establish a one-set lead at 3-2.

“There’s a lot on my mind and moving to world No. 4 was among them,” confessed Clayton. “Whenever I looked up, Andreas was hitting his doubles. It was a real battle; I didn’t play my top darts and had a lot of loose attempts, but that’s what pressure does to you.”

Ratajski Rolls into Quarter-Finals

Joining them in the next round is Krzysztof Ratajski, who pulled away in the closing phases to secure a 4-2 win over Luke Woodhouse, earning his spot in the prestigious last eight of the championship.