“Josh Rock will start favourite over Michael van Gerwen” says Wayne Mardle in seismic shift for changed Dutchman

Josh Rock progressed into the second round of the World Matchplay on Monday, where he beat world No.14 Ross Smith and Wayne Mardle sees him being favourite over Michael van Gerwen.

The recent World Cup winner averaged an impressive 104.32, while hitting over 45% of his doubles. Rock will face three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen in the second round; it will be the pairs second meeting this year, with MVG coming out as 7-2 victorious back in April – a game where Rock had just 6 darts at double.

Following Rock's increase in form and van Gerwen’s dip, the game will sure to be full of drama with both players looking to make a statement on the big stage. Wayne Mardle believes that Rock “will start favourite over Michael van Gerwen”

“This is how times change, things change. Someone gets worse, someone gets better.”

Rock has been well regarded for many years on tour and aged just 24 he is tipped to have a long successful career.

With van Gerwen taking some time away from the game leading up to the Matchplay, and many high seeds already out such as Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall. Many will argue this could be the time for Josh Rock to win his first individual major title.

Just last month Rock was part of that World Cup winning Northen Ireland team, where he broke the record for most 180s thrown in a game, hitting 9 out of Northen Irelands 11.

Van Gerwen who has already won the title in Blackpool three times, will need to be at his very best to compete with Rock.

Mardle believed Van Gerwen was far from his best last time out, “It looked like he’d forgotten how to throw completely.”

“A new guard moves in, someone else moves out”, perhaps hinting that MVG is past his best, and with this younger flock of players coming through such as Van Veen and Rock. Perhaps it’s someone else’s turn to dominate the game.

The winner of tonight’s game will face either Gerywn Price or Chris Dobey in the Quarter Final later this week.