Josh Rock came into the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship on debut with high hopes being one of the favourites despite only playing a few TV tournaments and winning a sole ProTour but has risen to the occasion at the Alexandra Palace dumping out Nathan Aspinall in a superb 4-3 sets win.
Rock hit 13 180's, a 95.92 average and 42% on the doubles which could have been even better missing key doubles to potentially ease through against Aspinall who was tenacious and full of fight as ever but heads home after a superb return this year.
This after injury hell plagued 'The Asp' twelve months ago and he wasn't sure if he would even play again but he goes out to the rising star.
A 180 and 85 checkout saw Rock hold to begin the tie. He hit a second on the throw but could only pressure as Aspinall held. Another 180 and double 20 saw Rock hold to go one away from the opening set.
Rock held in the decider though to seal the opening set with a superb 141 checkout. Aspinall missed 47 for an opening hold but Rock couldn’t break and ‘The Asp’ survived.
The set suddenly changed with Aspinall breaking with a 41 checkout to go 2-0 up and was throwing for 1-1. Both started with 180’s and Rock hit a second. Aspinall missed set darts and Rock broke to make it 2-1.
Aspinall missed another four set darts but Rock missed a dart at double 20 to hold and ‘The Asp’ after composing himself from the crowd pinned it to make it 1-1 in sets.
A timely 180 left 56 which he pinned to go one away from a 2-1 sets lead. Rock missed 146 for 2-1 down but multiple set darts were missed by Aspinall and Rock held on double eight. But finally Aspinall hit double eight for a 2-1 lead.
Aspinall missed 130 to hold to begin the next set and Rock hit double eighteen for 1-0. He missed 109 slipping into double five but Aspinall missed a dart to break and Rock sealed the hold to go one away from 2-2.
Aspinall held on double 16 but after back-to-back 180’s, Rock hit double 20 for 2-2. He held on double 20 last dart to lead in the fifth set.
He missed 111 for 2-0 and Aspinall split 38 for double eight at 1-1. A 70 checkout on double eight saw Rock go one away from a 3-2 sets lead.
Two 180’s and double four saw Aspinall force a decider. A 12th 180 was hit by Rock but he missed set darts. Aspinall returned for 140 but missed double 10 and Rock returned for a last dart double five.
Rock missed 160 for 1-1 and Aspinall hit double nine to go one away from forcing a decider. A 13th 180 for Rock and 12th from Aspinall saw Rock needing 124 but he missed double 11 and Aspinall hit double 16 for 3-3.
Rock missed double 20 for an opening hold but survived pressure from Aspinall to lead. A 99 checkout using two double 20’s saw Rock go one away.
A 177 saw Aspinall leave double 12 and he pinned double six to break back. He missed three darts for 2-2 and the tiebreak. A 70 checkout saw Rock seal it.
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