Josh Rock and Damon Heta have become the first two players through to the last 16 on Thursday night at the 2025 PDC Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes.
For Rock, his tournament opened with a very impressive 3-1 win over Jermaine Wattimena. Partly due to the short format, with best of 3 legs per set, and the fact that Wattimena and Rock are both fast players, this match lasted barely 15 minutes.
Wattimena had chances to break Rock in the first leg of the first set, but missed his two break chances. Rock took the lead before Wattimena scored with a 40 finish for the 1-1 draw. The Dutchman then put himself away on double 12 in the third leg, but saw Rock throw out 60 to take the first set.
The second set was a convincing win for Wattimena. The Dutchman kept his own leg and then managed to snatch the leg from Rock thanks to two 180 scores to level up the score. Rock, however, delivered a strong set himself in set three. With an 11-darter, the Northern Irishman kept his own leg, before a 13-darter took the set 2-0 to take a 2-1 lead in sets.
Wattimena then got to start the fourth set and did so strongly with an 11-darter. Rock was then not out in five visits, but Wattimena could not take advantage. An 18-darter put 'Rocky' at 1-1, leaving him just one leg away from victory. Wattimena was allowed to start the next leg, however, but 'The Machine Gun' was not out in six innings in his own leg. Rock grabbed this present with both hands and threw himself into the next round with a 52 check-out.
For Heta meanwhile, it was a 3-1 victory over Ross Smith. Heta strongly moved into an early lead, thanks in part to some missed darts at double by Smith. 'Smudger' though, fought back in the second set, taking back to back legs to level up the set in double quick time.
Smith then kicked off the fourth set with a pair of 180s. Again the doubles let him down though, allowing Heta to punish and break throw. More darts came and went for Smith in the next leg too and Heta took advantage get back in front at 2-1 in sets.
When Heta took the opening leg of set 4, he was suddenly just one away from the win. Smith then pinned double 16 to hold throw and force a decider to set 4. Heta had the darts in leg 5, but it was Smith that had first shot at a double. Wasting numerous darts on the outer ring though, the English failed to capitalise, and Heta secured the 3-1 win.
ROCK INTO THE LAST 16!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 30, 2025
What a performance from Josh Rock, who wraps up a 3-1 victory over Jermaine Wattimena to book his place in round two in Milton Keynes!
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