Dartowiec Josh Rock demands a change of venue for the World Grand Prix.

Demand for a change of venue for the World Darts Championship

According to The Sun: Josh Rock has submitted a request for a change of venue for the World Darts Championship ahead of the final.

The player from Antrim was eliminated from the tournament by Gerwyn Price on Thursday.

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24-year-old Rock has already participated in two previous championships but was unhappy with the crowd in Leicester.

The championships started in Rochester in 1998, and from 2001 to 2019, they were held at the Citywest hotel in Dublin.

In 2021, they were moved to the Mattioli arena with a limited capacity of 2200 after a year’s organization in Coventry.

However, Rock insists on the need for a change of venue.

The Northern Irish player believes the event could not fill the venue, and a location should be chosen that will be fully occupied.

“I have never been to the matches when they were held in Dublin, but I think the PDC should change the venue because there are absolutely no fans in Leicester,” he said.

“It should be a big event. So maybe they should find a place where they are sure they will gather fans from Monday to Sunday.”

PDC representatives denied this information, stating that this year’s event gathered more fans than in 2024.

World Darts Championship Winners

Here are the last ten winners of the tournament...

• 2015 – Robert Thornton
• 2016 – Michael van Gerwen
• 2017 – Daryl Gurney
• 2018 – Michael van Gerwen
• 2019 – Michael van Gerwen
• 2020 – Gerwyn Price
• 2021 – Jonny Clayton
• 2022 – Michael van Gerwen
• 2023 – Luke Humphries
• 2024 – Mike De Dekker

This will be the FIRST time that two Lukes meet in the big final.

Littler has already expressed his gratitude and stated that he “must” win against Humphries.

“I definitely have to get him for the Premier League…” he said.

“But Luka has a really good record. He has lost the last two, and he himself has won one.

“For me, it’s all quite new. Just like last year in the playoff match, I lost in the first round, and I ended up winning it.

“Last year, I lost in the first round, and now I’m in the final.

“I can’t wait for it. We are first and second, so if we win, we’ll meet in the finals.

“I hope I can win tomorrow and get even closer to his place at the top.”

All about the World Darts Championship

The World Darts Championship returns this week!

This event is one of the most important in the world of darts, with thousands of fans gathering in Leicester for a week of intense matches.

The best dart players will participate, with Mike De Dekker trying to defend his title while Luke Humphries, last year’s finalist, is the top seed.

This is one of the few tournaments where Luke Littler has struggled, as the current world champion failed to advance further than the 32nd round in 2024 and 2025.

Here’s everything you need to know about the World Darts Championship!

LIVE - FOLLOW THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ONLINE

INFORMATION

• Tickets - how much do they cost and how to buy them?
• Start time, schedule, and results for the week
• Rules and format - what is the double start?
• What are the prize money?

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This year's World Darts Championship is taking place amidst controversy over the venue, raising important questions about fan dynamics and the popularity of the tournament. Increasing criticism from players like Josh Rock may prompt PDC organizers to rethink their choice of halls in the future if they wish to make this event more appealing to fans.