Northern Irish darts star Josh Rock has called for a new pairs tournament on the PDC calendar with a unique twist: players would be allowed to choose their own partner, but not their regular World Cup of Darts teammate. The 24-year-old, known as 'Rocky', made the proposal when asked about adding more pairs formats, telling TalkSport: "One more pairs event where you can pick your own partner. Blind pairs. When I said pick your own partner, I meant you're not allowed to pick your own World Cup partner because that's a disadvantage."
This rule would prevent established national duos from teaming up in the new event. Combinations like Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, or Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, would be barred, and Rock himself couldn't partner with his regular Northern Irish teammate Daryl Gurney. Rock knows the power of pairs success firsthand, having won the 2025 World Cup of Darts with Gurney, beating Wales 10-9 in a nerve-racking final to claim Northern Ireland's first title.
Rock is currently competing in Premier League Darts, a childhood dream realized after watching his idol Gary Anderson in Belfast as an 11-year-old. He admitted: "If I didn't get the Prem this year, I might not have been up for it the same (in the future) because I knew I worked hard to get into the Prem. I would have been heartbroken if I didn't get it." His Premier League campaign has been challenging so far, with quarterfinal exits in Newcastle, Antwerp, Glasgow, and Belfast.
The proposal aligns with the PDC's trend toward innovation and entertainment. Such an event would create fresh storylines and surprise partnerships, potentially appealing to Dutch and Belgian fans as well. If the PDC seriously considers Rock's plan, it could become one of the most talked-about additions to the darts calendar in coming years.
