Josh Rock secured his third PDC ranking title of 2024 with a thrilling 8-7 victory over Jonny Clayton in the final of Players Championship 30 in Leicester. Rock capitalized on Clayton’s early struggles with doubles to build a 3-0 lead, but Clayton mounted a comeback, leveling the score at 6-6. Despite Clayton’s resilience, Rock held his nerve to clinch the win with a 118 checkout in the deciding leg. This victory added to Rock’s previous successes, including his maiden European Tour title and another Players Championship win earlier in the year. He’s now back in the world’s top 16 and determined to improve his performances on the big stage, particularly with the upcoming World Championship in mind.

Clayton, despite falling short in his bid for a seventh Players Championship title, impressed throughout the event, including a 103 average in his semi-final victory over Ryan Searle. Other standout performances included Andrew Gilding’s remarkable 115.12 average, and a thrilling nine-darter from Dave Chisnall in his opening match. As the 2024 ProTour season concluded, the race for qualification spots intensified, with several high-profile names, including José de Sousa, Simon Whitlock, and Ricardo Pietreczko, failing to secure their place in the upcoming Players Championship Finals. Additionally, Steve Beaton’s ProTour career came to a close with a poignant farewell at the Mattioli Arena.

Source: PDCTV
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