Rock and De Decker gearing up for World Series debuts in Australia
Josh Rock and Mike De Decker will both make their World Series of Darts debuts this weekend as the PDC's finest head down under for the 2025 Australian Darts Masters.
The invite-only events don't offer ranking points but there is still a tasty £30,000 going to this weekend's champion – and the absence of regular World Series stars Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall has opened the door for Rock and De Decker to make a splash.
Rock, 24, is enjoying a sublime 2025 having starred in a surprise Northern Irish World Cup of Darts triumph alongside Daryl Gurney, before more recently making the World Matchplay semi-final last month.
He bowed out in Blackpool 17-14 to eventual champion Luke Littler, having led 5-0 and 9-6, in a performance that left many touting Rock as a certainty for next year's Premier League line-up.
Belgian De Decker, 29, made no secret of his disappointment at being snubbed for this year's Premier League line-up having won the 2024 World Grand Prix – a major victory that would traditionally see a player make the PDC's lucrative eight-man roadshow.
However, after a mediocre year to date, this World Series call-up offers De Decker another chance to stake his claim and show he can consistently compete with the game's elite.
Littler is, unsurprisingly, a warm favourite to reign supreme in Australia with Star Sports a top-price 13/8 about the Nuke lifting the title.
Yet the youngster is still looking for a first World Series win of the campaign, having blanked in the first five events across Bahrain, the Netherlands, Denmark, USA and Poland.
Luke Humphries is a general 7/2 shot, while Gerwyn Price – who picked up the title in Poland last month – is a standout 6/1, again with Star Sports.
Rock is no bigger than 8/1 to make his debut a winning one, with double-figure quotes for the remainder.
Eight Oceanic qualifiers will face PDC pros in the first round, with notable names including Tour Card holder Haupai Puha and darts icon Simon Whitlock, who lost his card in January.
But the bulks of home hopes will rest on the shoulders of world No10 Damon Heta, who will hope to follow an impressive showing on his first World Series call-up in New York where he reached the semi-finals.
Heta, who memorably won the Brisbane Darts Masters in 2019 as a regional qualifier to springboard his move into the professional ranks, is a 20/1 chance across the board to lift the title.
Stay tuned for our darts tipster Matt Hill's betting tips ahead of the Australian Darts Masters later this week
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt's p/l
7 Days
30 Days
Year 2025
