JOSH ROCK has denied KISSING his big pal and rival Scott Williams on the lips on the Grand Slam stage!
The World No10 battled his way into the last eight with a 10-9 win over Connor Scutt and now faces Luke Littler on Saturday.
But Rock, 24, was quick to dismiss chat that he had an intimate smooch three years ago with his oche mate Williams, who is nicknamed Shaggy.
The pair share the same manager Rab Bain and Rock revealed: “Scott always puts the yearly photo up when we played in the Grand Slam.
“Everyone thinks we kissed on the lips. I’ll clarify that we did not kiss on the lips!
“We kissed each other on the cheek, the camera angle was perfect.”
Rock is now ready to lock horns again with another pal Littler in Wolverhampton on Saturday night.
The pair were involved in a World Matchplay thriller in July and included a sensational perfect leg of darts.
Asked whether he wanted this rivalry to become the next Phil Taylor vs Adrian Lewis-type of clash, he said: “I’d love it to be. Luke is one of my good friends.
“If it’s a good rivalry with him for the future, I’ll accept that.
“There will be fireworks. It’s going to be a smashing game. Hopefully I’m throwing better.
“If we keep having good battles then it might wake me up a bit. There’s going to be fireworks regardless.”
Williams has previously commented on the Kissgate incident: “We’d just become good mates.
“I went to kiss him on the cheek, he went the same way, and we kind of kissed above the lips in the moustache area. No tongues, but close! We were just excited.”
