Darts star Josh Rock has claimed he was banned from changing his walk-on song ahead of the World Matchplay.
The Northern Irishman is into his first-ever quarter-final at the Winter Gardens thanks to a stunning comeback victory over Michael van Gerwen in the second round.
After going 4-1 down against the three-time world champion, Rock then turned things around to edge a thrilling contest 13-11.
And while things couldn’t have gone better for him at the oche, the 24-year-old has experienced some frustration away from it.
This is because Rock once again saw his plans to change his walk-on song blocked ahead of the tournament.
The PDC star had initially hoped to debut a new anthem at the World Cup of Darts in June, which saw him claim glory alongside Daryl Gurney.
Rock has since walked out to the same song – ‘Welcome to the Party’ by Dj Krissy – at both events.
But he has revealed he has not backtracked on his wish to adopt a new tune.
Instead, ‘Rocky’ claimed he has been banned from doing so.
Darts players are generally allowed to change their walk-on tune, but the PDC can veto their choices.
In an interview with Dartsnews.com following his first-round victory over Ross Smith, Rock was asked about his plans to change his walk-on song.
He explained: “I didn’t change my mind, I just wasn’t allowed in the end.
“But I’m not going to go on about it.”
And sticking to his old song clearly hasn’t done Rock any harm, who has enjoyed a strong World Matchplay campaign so far.
He put it in a dominant display in the first round against Ross Smith, triumphing 10-5 to claim his first victory in the tournament at the third time of asking.
Rock followed this up with a stunning win over Van Gerwen, where he twice looked down and out after trailing 5-1 and 9-6 in the match, before levelling the score at 10-10 and winning a tense tie-break.
Having revealed before the match that he had been thrashed by the Dutchman in a practice match ahead of the tournament, the world number 17 was thrilled with his performance.
He said: “That’s one of the best games I’ve ever been involved in, without a doubt.
“I think you could see by my celebrations at the end what that meant to me. My heart was pumping throughout the whole game. Michael always seems to turn up against me, but I’m so happy to get the win.”
Rock will face Gerwyn Price in the quarter-final, who powered past Chris Dobey in just 24 minutes in his second-round match.
Despite a comfortable win, Price said afterwards: “I don’t think Chris played badly at all.
“I felt like I was on top of my game in the middle part of that match.
“I was in the zone and I managed to keep my focus. I’m confident in my own game. Playing like that will give me even more self-belief, and I feel like I’m getting back to my best.”
Elsewhere in the tournament, teenage superstar Luke Littler also made a statement with an incredible comeback victory over Jermaine Wattimena.
The PDC World Champion trailed the Dutchman 7-2 in the first-to-11 legs match, before winning six legs in a row to triumph 13-11.