Darts sensation Justin Hood is on the brink of achieving a lifelong ambition beyond the oche, with his £100,000 World Championship prize money potentially funding his dream of opening a Chinese restaurant.
Flawless Darts Fuels Culinary Dream
The 32-year-old, nicknamed 'Happy Feet', secured his place in the tournament's quarter-finals with a stunning 4-0 whitewash of Josh Rock on December 30. His performance was historic, as he became the first player to hit 11 consecutive doubles without a miss during an afternoon session, finishing with a 75 percent checkout rate.
Currently ranked 86th in the world, Hood was a 1,000/1 outsider before the tournament began at London's Alexandra Palace. His remarkable run has seen him defeat Nick Kenny, sixth seed Danny Noppert, Ryan Meikle, and now Rock.
From Hotel Porter to Darts Hero
Hood, who quit his job as a hotel porter to pursue darts, only qualified for the professional tour via Q School earlier this year. Now, his success is bringing a very personal goal into sharp focus. He has frequently joked about using the event's record £1 million top prize to launch his own eatery.
"I haven't looked into it (the finances) properly yet," Hood admitted before his fourth-round match. "We might be out of business in a week, the amount of food I eat. I wanted to stay in London over Christmas because the Chinese around here are top-notch. I love eating it all the time."
Life-Changing Money and a New Year's Day Showdown
When asked if the £100,000 was life-changing, Hood responded with characteristic calm: "Yes and no. I don't live above my means. It's nice to have it in the bank, but I just get up there to throw darts. The money's a massive bonus - I want that trophy now."
His immediate focus is a New Year's Day quarter-final clash against two-time former world champion Gary Anderson, who defeated Michael van Gerwen 4-1. Victory would put Hood just two wins away from the final and significantly boost his restaurant fund.
Hood's story echoes that of world number one Luke Littler, who captivated fans during the 2024 championship with his well-documented love of kebabs. For Hood, however, the craving is firmly for Chinese cuisine, a dream that is now tantalisingly within reach thanks to his darting brilliance.
