Underdog Justin Hood Smashes Record with Stunning 11 Straight Doubles in Global Showdown Thrashing
In a performance that rewrote the history books, debutant Justin Hood pulled off an unprecedented feat of 11 consecutive doubles, powering his way to a commanding 4-0 victory over Josh Rock in the third round 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 premier professional circuit, continued his sensational tournament run. His perfect doubling streak only ended when he had a chance to seal the match at 2-0 up in the fourth set. Undaunted, he regrouped to secure the victory with a superb 119 checkout in the following leg.
“This isn't a storybook – I know 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 a bit of nerves was on my throw the leg before the last. I’m not used to this. Usually, I get hate messages. This is absolutely insane.”
Setting the Tone with Electrifying Start
Hood immediately signaled his intentions by winning the opening set with an lightning-fast break of throw. This left the favored Rock, the tournament's number 11, little to do but watch in awe as Hood charged to victory, posting a impressive 101 average and hammering 10 maximum 180s.
This record-breaking win guarantees the newcomer a career-best payday of at least £100,000 and edges him closer to his stated ambition of opening a Chinese restaurant.
Clayton Advances 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 squandering key opportunities, after establishing a 2-1 advantage and then missing four darts to regain 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 tough; I didn’t play my best darts and had a lot of loose attempts, but that’s what the occasion does to you.”
Ratajski Rolls into Quarter-Finals
Joining them in the quarter-final stage is Krzysztof Ratajski, who pulled away in the later stages to secure a 4-2 win over Luke Woodhouse, earning his spot in the elite last eight of the championship.
