Josh Rock clinched his third rating title of 2024 with an exhilarating deciding-leg victory over Jonny Clayton at Gamers Championship 30 in Leicester, the ultimate occasion of the PDC ProTour season.
Rock capitalised on Clayton’s early doubling woes to ascertain a 3-0 cushion, just for the two-time World Cup winner to open his account with a surprising 132 mixture on the bull.
The Northern Irishman appeared undeterred as he prolonged his result in 6-2, however Clayton hit again with an impressed four-leg burst, producing legs of 11, 13, 14 and 14 darts to degree at six apiece.
Clayton then replied to a 14-dart maintain from Rock with an imposing 140 end to pressure a decider, however he was not afforded a match-winning alternative, as Rock sealed the title with a nerveless 118 checkout on tops to scoop the £15,000 prime prize.
“That was a very, very tough game,” mentioned Rock, who defied a 106.38 common from Clayton to triumph with a 102 common of his personal. “That’s the reason Jonny is among the greatest gamers on the earth. He simply would not go away!
“He knows what to do, how to do it and when to do it. He came back brilliantly there, but thankfully I hit that 118 checkout!”
Rock had already claimed a maiden European Tour success in Might’s Dutch Darts Championship and received Gamers Championship 17 in August, along with his newest success coming in his fourth Gamers Championship last of 2024.
“My TV performances in the last two years have been disappointing, but that will change,” he added. “I don’t know why it hasn’t been happening on the big stage, because I’m not doing anything different.
“I am not feeling nervous up there, however issues will change, and the one I’m most centered for is the World Championship.”
Rock produced his performance of the day in a third-round demolition of Jim Williams, averaging 107.67, although he survived two match darts against Wessel Nijman in the quarter-finals before sweeping aside William O’Connor 7-3 in the last four.
What else occurred in Gamers Championship 30?
O’Connor joined Ryan Searle within the final 4, having kicked off his marketing campaign with an exhilarating win over prime seed Dave Chisnall – who landed a nine-darter earlier within the contest.
Andrew Gilding delivered the efficiency of the day, averaging 115.12 to win by means of a outstanding encounter in opposition to Connor Scutt, who claimed two simply legs regardless of averaging 110.82.
Monk, in the meantime, defeated Gamers Championship Order of Advantage winner Chris Dobey and Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld to achieve the final eight, however he nonetheless missed out on qualification for the Gamers Championship Finals.
Steve Beaton was additionally denied a spot within the Minehead occasion, because the curtain got here down on his ProTour profession on the Mattioli Enviornment with a 6-4 defeat to Niels Zonneveld in his last Gamers Championship occasion.
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Steve Beaton performed his final PDC ProTour match in opposition to Niels Zonneveld in Gamers Championship 30 [Credit: PDC]
The 60-year-old obtained a standing ovation from his fellow professionals forward of Thursday’s play. Beaton might be in motion in Friday’s Grand Slam of Darts Qualifier, whereas he may safe a spot within the 2024/25 World Darts Championship by way of subsequent month’s Tour Card Holder Qualifier.
Former World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall held on to assert the sixty fourth and last place, regardless of struggling a first-round exit in opposition to Kevin Doets, whereas Ricardo Pietreczko, Simon Whitlock and Jose De Sousa might be among the many high-profile absentees on the Gamers Championship Finals.
What reside darts is subsequent on Sky Sports activities?
Stay darts returns to Sky Sports activities with the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton from November 9-17, as Luke Humphries appears to be like to defend his title with Luke Littler and Beau Greaves additionally in motion.
Consideration then turns to the flip of the 12 months and the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, starting on December 15, because the darts calendar continues to offer pleasure all year long – and you may get pleasure from the easiest right here reside on Sky Sports activities.
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