Rock-solid Josh Rock captures title at Players Championship 17

The seventeenth Players Championship tournament of the season has gone to Josh Rock. The Northern Irishman defeated Joe Cullen in the final to win his third PDC ranking title.

Rock began the tournament with an easy 6-1 victory over Aden Kirk. He then defeated Owen Roelofs (6-4), Scott Williams (6-2) and Niels Zonneveld (6-4) to force a clash with Gary Anderson. The Scot was defeated 6-5, followed by Ross Smith's 7-6 win. Rock turned a 1-3 deficit into a 6-3 lead against 'Smudger'. Smith came back to 6-6, but then Rock decided the game with an 11-darter.

So in the final, Cullen was the opponent. With resounding victories over Madars Razma (6-1), Paul Krohne (6-3), Gary Anderson (6-1) and Chris Landman (6-2), Cullen advanced to the final. In the quarterfinals, 'The Rockstar' was tested a bit more. Although he managed to lead 5-2 against James Hurrell, his compatriot came back to 5-4. Cullen then finished it off with a 17-darter. He then beat Florian Hempel 7-2 in the semifinals.

Cullen won two of the first three legs in the final, but then had to watch as four legs in a row went to Rock. After that, Cullen managed to come back to 6-6, but then Rock decided the match with a 12-darter and a 16-darter.

A total of 125,000 pounds in prize money is distributed at each Players Championship tournament. The winner of the event will receive a check for 15,000 pounds.

Results Players Championship 17

Last 32

Dave Chisnall 6 | 1 Rhys Griffin

Florian Hempel 6 | 4 Connor Scutt

Stephen Bunting 6 | 4 Luke Woodhouse

Ryan Searle 6 | 5 Mike De Decker

Joe Cullen 6 | 1 Gary Anderson

Chris Landman 6 | 1 Gian van Veen

James Hurrell 6 | 3 Martin Lukeman

Jim Williams 6 | 1 John Henderson

Ross Smith 6 | 3 Justin Hood

Ryan Joyce 6 | 1 Daryl Gurney

Graham Hall 6 | 3 Alan Soutar

Keane Barry 6 | 2 Cam Crabtree

Cameron Menzies 6 | 2 Gerwyn Price

Nick Kenny 6 | 5 Stephen Burton

Josh Rock 6 | 2 Scott Williams

Niels Zonneveld 6 | 0 Arron Monk

Last 16

Florian Hempel 6 | 4 Dave Chisnall

Ryan Searle 6 | 3 Stephen Bunting

Joe Cullen 6 | 2 Chris Landman

James Hurrell 6 | 5 Jim Williams

Ross Smith 6 | 2 Ryan Joyce

Keane Barry 6 | 0 Graham Hall

Cameron Menzies 6 | 4 Nick Kenny

Josh Rock 6 | 4 Niels Zonneveld

Quarterfinals

Florian Hempel 6 | 5 Ryan Searle

Joe Cullen 6 | 4 James Hurrell

Ross Smith 6 | 4 Keane Barry

Josh Rock 6 | 5 Cameron Menzies

Semi-final

Joe Cullen 7 | 2 Florian Hempel

Josh Rock 7 | 6 Ross Smith

Final

Josh Rock 8 | 6 Joe Cullen