Justin Hood has become Alexandra Palace’s latest cult hero with his incredible run to the quarter-finals, making the crowd go along with his dream of opening a Chinese takeaway.
Now that dream has become a reality as Hood is guaranteed at least £100,000 to reach the last eight when he takes on Gary Anderson live on Sky Sports Darts on Thursday afternoon.
The 32-year-old made history by defeating Josh Locke 4-0 in the fourth round, throwing 11 of 11 doubles, a new PDC record.
After the game, he asked the crowd, “Who wants the Chinese?” He also said he plans to open a new takeout shop in 2026.
“I think we’re getting there. I don’t think we have a choice. I think we’re getting there now,” he told the media.
“We don’t have a schedule yet, but I have to pay twice as much! But I’ll think about it after the World Championships and start from there.”
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Justin Hood invites Ally Pally crowd to Chinese after securing historic win over Josh Locke in the round of 16 of the World Darts Championship and securing the £100,000 he needs to fulfill his dream of opening a restaurant
Hood is one of the shortest players on tour at 5-foot-4 (1.63 meters), but he has the biggest personality, making funny faces and having a carefree demeanor during matches.
He has been given the nickname ‘Happy Feet’ after borrowing his oversized shoes to county matches as a teenager, which definitely brought a lot of smiles to people’s faces.
“I’m not going to change who I am,” he said.
“This is a game of darts. If you play well, you can win. We proved that today and the last three times we played. We’re feeling good, long may it continue.”
Justin Hood goes by the nickname Happy Feet (Photo by PDC/Taylor Lanning)
Mr Hood suddenly emerges at Alexandra Palace
Hood is determined to work as a night porter until November 2024 and earn his PDC tour card.
“I took a gamble and spent all my savings to stay in a hotel in Milton Keynes for eight weeks and it paid off,” he said.
“It wasn’t the best experience in the cheapest hotel I could find, but I said I had to take a gamble. I put all my time into it and it paid off.”
Hood lost his first two matches in Stage 1 of Q School in January, but the gamble paid off as he won on the second day of the final stage.
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Watch Justin Hood and Ryan Meikle interact as they exchange over 6 tons of checkouts.
He has played on the Pro Tour all year, making just one quarterfinal appearance at Players Championship 23 in Hildesheim in July, but showed signs of improvement by reaching the fourth round of the British Open in March, a televised tournament.
No one could have predicted this incredible run to the quarterfinals, but what has changed?
“Lazy, I’ve been very lazy this year. I did what I’ve always done: practice 30 minutes a day, then go to the Pro Tour, practice for three hours and play,” Hood revealed.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time on the board for the last six weeks, four or five hours a day, and it’s paying off. Next year I’m going to do it every day. Just be careful.”
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Justin Hood wins an epic final set against Danny Knoppert to come out on top in the second round of the World Darts Championship
Hood made his name known to the world by defeating Welshman Nick Kenny in the first round and shocking seventh-seeded Danny Knoppert in perhaps the most important match of the tournament so far.
Both players averaged 102 points in the match, which ended in sudden death in the deciding set, with Hood resisting all of Knoppert’s attacks and coming out on top.
He comfortably dispatched Ryan Meikle in the third round and then turned in a record-breaking performance against The Rock with a 100 percent double success from the first 11 winning legs.
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Justin Hood joked about facing Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship final after his second round win over Danny Knoppert
“This is no fairy tale. I know what I’m capable of and I’m happy to prove it here,” he said.
“I was thinking about it (doubles) and it was on the screen! The only time I was a little nervous was when I was pitching to win in the penultimate leg.
“It’s very overwhelming. I’m not used to this. I get hate messages all the time. This is infuriating.”
Hood: I’m not worried about anyone.
Hood will face another big test against two-time world champion Anderson in the quarterfinals, but he shows no fear.
“I’m not worried about anybody, it doesn’t matter if it’s the two of them or someone who just got a tour card, it’s a game of darts and if I play the way I can I’ll beat them and if I don’t they’ll beat me, but I’m confident we can win,” he said before Anderson beat Van Gerwen 4-1.
“They always have a chance and they are legends in this sport. But if they beat me, they have to earn it and I’m not worried about either of them.
“Nobody can beat me until they’re out there. They’ve got to win. I’m not worried about any of the players. I don’t care if it’s those two or Phil Taylor or somebody in the pub. If I play my game, I’ll beat everyone there and if I play well. If I don’t, they might beat me. So I’m just going to go out there and keep doing what I’m doing.”
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Emma Payton and John Peart look ahead to four World Darts Championship quarter-finals
In fact, Hood and Anderson faced off once earlier this year at a closed-door Players Championship event in Leicester, with Hood winning 6-2 despite Anderson averaging 105 points.
“He beat me! As I said at the beginning of the tournament, Justin Hood is a top-notch darts player,” said Anderson, who will be playing in his 10th World Championship quarter-final.
Anderson, a two-time world champion, has experience, but given Hood’s cool and calm personality, it is unlikely to be a factor.
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Gary Anderson beats Michael van Gerwen to reach the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship
Anderson said he doesn’t believe a third world title is up for grabs just yet and is here to “take it one step at a time.”
“We have to get through the next match. If we make it to the final, we have a chance. Even if we don’t make it to the final, we did well,” he said.
“I am very happy with what I have done because I was able to get past the first round of this tournament and my talent has blossomed.”
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