Sporting Life
Justin Hood
Justin Hood

Darts results: Justin Hood cooks up stunning display to earn enough prize money to buy Chinese restaurant

By Sporting Life
Darts
Wed December 31, 2025 · 9h ago

Justin Hood's dream of owning a Chinese restaurant is on after he bagged a guaranteed £100,000 in prize money by reaching the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship.

Hood beat Josh Rock 4-0 courtesy of a record-breaking display of doubles hitting, having pinned his first 11 attempts against an opponent who could only shake his head and smile.

It was Rock who arrived at Alexandra Palace as a potential title contender whereas Hood was a relative unknown given no chance whatsoever of going all the way to the final on January.

But now just two more hurdles stand in front of him and the £1million winner's cheque, enough perhaps not just to open the Chinese restaurant he's spoken about, but to start a chain of them.

Watched on by his family members, with whom he shared an emotional embrace afterwards, the left-hander powered into the last eight with a 101 average, 10 maximums and a checkout percentage of 75%, as that match-winning double proved much harder than the 11 which came before it.

"My doubles were amazing there. Josh gave me some chances and I took them," said Hood.

"My scoring was amazing in practice but my doubles were a little ropey, so I had an hour focusing on doubles and it paid off!

"It’s a game of darts. If I play like I can, I can beat them, so I’m confident that I will win."

Rock, who had beaten Callan Rydz the previous evening, didn't do a lot wrong but lost decisive legs in the first two sets as Hood set about a record-breaking run of 11 successive leg-winning doubles.

And while getting over the line was the tricky part, in the end Hood was able to do so to set up a quarter-final with Gary Anderson, who beat Michael van Gerwen 4-1 in the evening.

Hood's close friend Luke Humphries beat Kevin Doets 4-1 in the last match of 2025 and Cool Hand later confirmed he was going to get roped into opening the Chinese restaurant with Hood.

As for Anderson, the numbers make this one closer than the eventual scoreline, both players averaging 99, but Anderson won the decisive legs in sets one and two and from there was always in command.

Van Gerwen cut the deficit to a single set by capturing the third but was broken immediately to begin the fourth set, which he lost without holding throw, and Anderson was able to haul himself over the line thanks to some poor darts at double from his opponent to end set five.

Gian van Veen is now the sole remaining Dutchman in the draw after he produced a dominant 4-1 victory over 20-year-old Charlie Manby.

Van Veen and Humphries will face off in the pick of the quarter-finals, both having moved through the gears on the final darting day of the year.

Clayton and Krzysztof advance

Earlier, Jonny Clayton ended the dream run of Andreas Harrysson, denying the Swede a PDC Tour Card with a 4-2 win.

Harrysson needed to reach the last eight to be sure of professional status for 2026 but Clayton had other ideas, his experience counting for plenty in a match which really ought to have gone the distance.

In the end, Harrysson's costly misses at precisely the wrong time denied the crowd an epic as Clayton, whose four sets all came by 3-2 scorelines, edged his way into the last eight and a meeting with Ryan Searle.

Krzysztof Ratajski joins him there and will face Luke Littler after seeing off namesake Luke Woodhouse 4-2.

Woodhouse dominated the 180s count but was still comfortably outscored by Ratajski, value for the winning margin while aware no doubt that he'll need much more when he returns to face the favourite.

"It’s the biggest challenge you can imagine," said Ratajski, set to play in his second World Championship quarter-final. "He’s the best player in the world, he’s the world champion, but in sport, anything is possible."

Tuesday's World Darts results

Afternoon Session (12.30pm GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

  • Luke Woodhouse 2-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
  • Jonny Clayton 4-2 Andreas Harrysson
  • Justin Hood 4-0 Josh Rock

Evening Session (7pm GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

  • Charlie Manby 1-4 Gian van Veen
  • Michael van Gerwen 1-4 Gary Anderson
  • Luke Humphries 4-1 Kevin Doets

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