Hood Stuns Rock with Record-Breaking Performance, Advances to Quarter-Finals

In a stunning display of skill, Justin Hood dominated Josh Rock with a 4-0 victory in the last 16, breaking the PDC record for consecutive doubles hit without missing. Hood achieved an impressive 11 out of 11 doubles, surpassing Jonny Clayton's previous record of 10 out of 11. Hood's remarkable performance began with a strong start, taking the first three sets with ease. He then won the next two legs in the fourth set, putting him on the cusp of a perfect match. However, he narrowly missed a shot at double 16, ending his bid for perfection. Despite this, Hood expressed his excitement and surprise at his achievement, stating, 'It's not a fairytale. I know what I can do, and it's nice to prove it.' He also acknowledged the pressure he faced, particularly when throwing to win in the penultimate leg. Rock, on the other hand, struggled to keep up with Hood's incredible pace, watching in disbelief as his opponent consistently hit doubles. The Northern Irishman did manage to take the opening two sets to deciding legs but ultimately lost both. Hood will now face either Michael van Gerwen or Gary Anderson in the quarter-finals. In other matches, fifth-seed Jonny Clayton narrowly avoided an upset with a 4-2 victory over Swedish debutant Andreas Harrysson. Clayton will face Ryan Searle in the next round. Krzysztof Ratajski also secured a spot in the quarter-finals, beating Luke Woodhouse 4-2. He will face Luke Littler in the next round.