In a thrilling end to the PDC ProTour season, Josh Rock claimed his third ranking title of the year on Thursday, winning Players Championship 30 in Leicester with a nail-biting 8-7 victory against Jonny Clayton.
Rock, only 23 years old, has had a fantastic year on the ProTour, previously winning May’s Dutch Darts Championship and Players Championship 17 in August. His talent and resilience shone once again in this dramatic final, where he overcame a fierce comeback from Clayton to secure the £15,000 top prize.
The match started with Rock racing to a 3-0 lead, taking advantage of Clayton’s early missed doubles. However, the two-time World Cup champ Clayton fought back fiercely, even hitting a spectacular 132 checkout on the bull. Rock stayed composed and extended his lead to 6-2, but Clayton answered with four consecutive legs, leveling the score at 6-6 with some fantastic scoring.
Rock edged ahead to 7-6, but Clayton forced a final-leg decider with a stunning 140 finish. Rock, however, saved his best for last, sealing victory with a flawless 118 checkout. “That was such a tough game,” Rock said afterward, acknowledging Clayton’s strong play. “Jonny is one of the best, and he doesn’t give up! I’m just glad I could hit that final 118.”
Rock’s road to victory was packed with impressive performances. He averaged 107.67 against Jim Williams in the third round and survived a nail-biting match against Wessel Nijman in the quarter-finals. In the semifinals, he defeated William O’Connor 7-3 before clinching the title in the dramatic final.
Clayton, meanwhile, put up a tremendous fight and continues to build momentum, collecting the £10,000 runner-up prize. He had outstanding wins along the way, including a semi-final win against Ryan Searle where he averaged 103. Despite coming up short, Clayton showed he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
The season finale had plenty of drama. Steve Beaton, a 60-year-old legend of the game, received a standing ovation from his fellow players as he played his final ProTour event, narrowly losing to Niels Zonneveld in an emotional farewell. He’ll still have a chance to qualify for the World Championship next month.
With the ProTour season wrapped up, all eyes are now on the Players Championship Finals next month, where the world’s best will compete for the top prize. Congratulations to Josh Rock on a well-deserved victory!
