Rock eyeing the top after sealing his third ranking title at Players Championship 17 “I can beat the best players. I know if I believe in myself – which I do – I’ll get into the top two in the world.”

Josh Rock won his third senior ranking title, and second in 2024, by defeating Joe Cullen 8-6 in the final of Players Championship 17 in Milton Keynes.

The Northern Irish player won the Dutch Darts Championship earlier this year, after making his PDC ProTour debut with a Players Championship triumph in October 2022.

He won another £15,000 title in style on Friday, capping up three days of Players Championship action at the Marshall Arena, defeating Cullen in a close match.

After sharing the first four legs of the final, Rock required only 43 darts to open up a 5-2 lead, with Cullen closing the difference to one.

Rock seized the next before Cullen levelled at six-all, only for the former World Youth Champion to slam home a massive 170 finish for a 7-6 lead before opening the following leg with a maximum, providing a cushion for double eight to seal victory.

“I knew [the 170] had to go and it went, thankfully!” reflected Rock, who is now 17th on the PDC Order of Merit and within £2,000 of Danny Noppert.

“In my first year I had my first title and last year I had five finals and lost all five. This year I’ve had three finals and won two, which is a better record thankfully!

“Obviously I’m here to win and everybody else is here to win, but I’m going to keep pushing because I want that top 16 place and even after that top ten.

“I believe I’m good enough because obviously I can beat the best players. I know if I believe in myself – which I do – I’ll get into the top two in the world.”

Rock’s path to the final was marked by ton-plus averages in victories over Aden Kirk and Ross Smith, respectively.

He also overcame Owen Roelofs, Scott Williams, and Niels Zonneveld before facing Cameron Menzies in the quarterfinals.

“Cammy [Menzies] is one of the hardest players to play,” added Rock. “He’s got a better record against me than I do against him, and I wanted my own back on Ross Smith because of the [defeat in round one of the World] Matchplay.”

 

Cullen, meanwhile, posted a ton-topping 102 average in his 7-2 semi-final victory over Florian Hempel, aiming for his first ranking crown in over two years.

The Bradford star also defeated twice World Champion Gary Anderson 6-1 on Friday, but finished second for the second time in 2024, matching his run to the final of the Austrian Darts Open in April.

Smith advanced to his sixth semi-final of the year, but fell short of winning his second ranking title of 2024, after averaging 106.70 and 103.60 during the event.

Germany’s Hempel had his greatest run in over two years, reaching only his second semi-final on the PDC ProTour, defeating Jonny Clayton, Mervyn King, Connor Scutt, Dave Chisnall, and Ryan Searle in convincing fashion.

Thursday’s champion, Mike De Decker, was eliminated by Searle in the last 32 after defeating Ricky Evans in a replay of the Players Championship 16 final in round one.

Searle was joined in the final eight by James Hurrell, Keane Barry, and Menzies, who continued his impressive form with ton-plus averages against Wessel Nijman and Gerwyn Price.

Luke Woodhouse opened Friday’s event with a nine-darter in his first round victory against Richie Burnett, but was eliminated in the last 32 by Masters champion Stephen Bunting.

2024 Players Championship 17

Friday August 2, Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

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

 

Quarter-Finals

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-Finals

Joe Cullen 7-2 Florian Hempel

Josh Rock 7-6 Ross Smith

 

Final

Josh Rock 8-6 Joe Cullen