Underdog Justin Hood Demolishes Record with Stunning 11 Straight Doubles in World Championship Rout

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

A Fairytale Start on the Grandest Arena

The 32-year-old, taking part in his first ever season on the top-tier professional circuit, extended his remarkable tournament run. His flawless doubling streak finally concluded when he was throwing to seal the match at 2-0 up in the fourth set. Unfazed, he composed himself to clinCH the victory with a superb 119 checkout in the following leg.

“This isn't a storybook – I am fully aware of what I can do and it’s nice to demonstrate it up there,” Hood stated in his post-match interview. “The sole moment I felt a bit of nerves was on my throw the leg before the last. I’m not used to this. Usually, I get negative comments. This is mad.”

Setting the Tone with Electrifying Start

Hood sent an early message about 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 charged to victory, registering 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 edges him closer to his stated ambition of launching a Chinese restaurant.

Clayton Climbs Amid Grueling Battle

In other third round action, Jonny Clayton confirmed 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 was made to regret 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.

“A number of things on my mind and becoming world No. 4 was among them,” confessed Clayton. “Whenever I looked up, Andreas was hitting his doubles. It was tough; I didn’t play my best darts and had a lot of loose throws, but that’s what the occasion does to you.”

Ratajski Rolls into Last Eight

Joining them in the next round is Krzysztof Ratajski, who found an extra gear in the closing phases to secure a 4-2 win over Luke Woodhouse, booking his place in the elite last eight of the championship.

Tracey Nichols
Tracey Nichols

A software engineer passionate about open-source ecosystems, with over a decade of experience in Linux administration and Python development.