Josh Rock failed to seal his second PDC title in his maiden final on the European Tour. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman went down 8-6 against Jonny Clayton in the final of the Austrian Darts Open.
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But he still looks back on the weekend with satisfaction after also thrashing Michael van Gerwen in a whitewash win
“Well done to Jonny. He was the better player and he deserved the win,” reflected Rock.
“Jonny took his chances when he had to, but I reached my first semi-final and final on the same night [on the European Tour], so I cannot complain. I’m happy.
“I was surprised that I whitewashed Michael. We have only played each other three times and that was my first time beating him and I beat him in style.
“I can’t take anything away from Jonny though. He was absolutely phenomenal, but I’m happy to get to the final, and thanks very much to the fans, they were fantastic.”
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
"I think Graz is very kind to me! I love this place!" ❤️
Jonny Clayton reacts to lifting his second Austrian Darts Open title, while Josh Rock also reflects on a landmark weekend at the Steiermarkhalle...