23/10/2022

Remarkable Rock seals maiden PDC ranking title in classic ProTour final against Humphries at Players Championship 28

A player who this time last year had whispers in darting circles after winning the Irish Classic in the WDF and producing an average of 111.33 in the Irish Open, Josh Rock went into Q-School heralded as a potential Tour Card winner and star of the future.

But not many could have seen the remarkable year that Rock has had and after reaching multiple finals, dominating the Development Tour and reaching two finals this week alone, the Northern Irishman finally has his first PDC ranking title.

Defeating Luke Humphries in a final which could be played a lot in the future and lived up to the hype in terms of standard being marked down as a Players Championship classic, it was an 8-5 win for Rock who produced a 108 average and defied 10 180's and a 102 average from 'Cool Hand Luke' who could not add to his glowing resume himself.

Prize Money breakdown 2022 Players Championship with £3,000,000 on offer

Rock missed 164 on the bull to hold, Humphries missed 134 and the former responded to lead 1-0. Both were locked on 140 with Rock leaving 40 which he pinned after Humphries couldn’t get a shot and it was 2-0 to the Northern Irishman.

Humphries went 180-140 back to back leaving himself on 76 but nearly didn’t return with Rock missing double 20 for 157 and ‘Cool Hand Luke’ broke back at 2-1.

Another timely maximum saw Humphries leave 103 which he missed on double 16 but with Rock on 167, he returned for parity at 2-2.

Rock held twice though to go 4-3 up and after Humphries fluffed his lines to hold, Rock returned for 68 to go 5-3 up.

Humphries hit a remarkable eighth 180 despite being well down on the scoreboard and hit a ninth to leave 41 to break straight back and after 161 wasn’t pinned, he made it back to a one leg match at 5-4.

Rock hit a second 180 and Humphries hit a tenth 180 in 10 legs only for Rock to hit an 85 checkout on the bull to break again at 6-4.

Rock missed double 18 for a 104 checkout to go one away and Humphries snatched it with a 109 checkout for 6-5. But again Rock broke for a 7-5 lead throwing for the title.

A 180 left 81 points for Rock and with Humphries way back, he left 40 and had six darts at it with Humphries way back and resigned but only needed two hitting double 20.

Players Championship 28

Last 16

Luke Humphries (100.41) 6 | 1 (97.87) Chris Dobey

Max Hopp (84.87) 6 | 3 (84.85) Ted Evetts

Ricardo Pietreczko (89.16) 6 | 4 (82.10) Gabriel Clemens

Ross Smith (104.29) 6 | 3 (90.18) Steve Beaton

Damon Heta (106.26) 6 | 1 (91.36) Kenny Neyens

Dirk van Duijvenbode (105.31) 6 | 5 (108.67) Jonny Clayton

Josh Rock (99.49) 6 | 3 (93.52) Jim Williams

Adrian Lewis (95.42) 6 | 2 (85.11) Berry van Peer

Quarter-Finals

Luke Humphries (102.21) 6 | 3 (95.98) Max Hopp