Nov 01,2024
County Antrim's Josh Rock clinched his third ranking title of 2024 with a thrilling deciding-leg victory over Jonny Clayton on Thursday as the PDC ProTour season concluded with Players Championship 30 in Leicester.
Rock has enjoyed a terrific ProTour campaign, following up a maiden European Tour success in May's Dutch Darts Championship with Players Championship 17 glory in August.
The 23-year-old claimed his maiden European Tour title with victory over Clayton in Rosmalen, and he again came out on top in a sensational showdown against the Welshman to scoop the £15,000 top prize having defeated Ireland's Willie O'Connor in the semi-final.
Rock capitalised on Clayton’s early doubling woes to establish a 3-0 cushion, only for the two-time World Cup winner to open his account with a stunning 132 combination on the bull.
Rock appeared undeterred as he extended his lead to 6-2, but Clayton hit back with an inspired four-leg burst, producing legs of 11, 13, 14 and 14 darts to level at six apiece.
Clayton then replied to a 14-dart hold from Rock with a majestic 140 finish to force a decider, but he wasn’t afforded a match-winning opportunity, as Rock sealed the title with a nerveless 118 checkout on tops.
"That was a very, very tough game," reflected Rock, who defied a 106.38 average from Clayton to triumph with a 102 average of his own.
"That is why Jonny is one of the best players in the world. He just doesn’t go away.
"He knows what to do, how to do it and when to do it. He came back brilliantly there, but thankfully I hit that 118 checkout."
Rock – featuring in his fourth Players Championship final of 2024 – produced his performance of the day in his third round demolition of Jim Williams, averaging 107.67 to dump out the Welshman.
This was preceded by wins over Alexander Merkx and Karel Sedlacek, while he produced a brilliant mid-match burst to celebrate a 6-3 victory over James Wade in the last 16.
Rock then launched a late comeback in his quarter-final clash against Wessel Nijman, surviving two match darts in the decider before sweeping aside O’Connor 7-3 in the last four.
Following his fourth PDC ranking title, Rock has regained his place in the world’s top 16, and he’s determined to transfer his ProTour performances to the big stage over the coming weeks.
"My TV performances in the last two years have been disappointing, but that will change," vowed the former World Youth champion.
