What Josh Rock pulled off in the Czech Republic is something rarely — if ever — seen during an official match. The young Northern Irishman brought the crowd to its feet with a daring finish that defied convention.
BULL, S1, BULL!
Josh Rock – that is outrageous! 🤯
Northern Ireland's number one produces an exhibition 101 checkout to move 4-2 ahead against William O'Connor!
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8#ET11 pic.twitter.com/W8p6Zd5Xfx
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) September 6, 2025
On Saturday evening, Rock closed the night’s session against William O’Connor, sealing the victory in trademark style. The finish he produced was the kind of route typically reserved for exhibition events. While his first dart could still be considered a reasonable option, his second choice was anything but logical. It was the sort of audacious play that even Luke Littler has all but abandoned on the professional stage. Yet for Rock, it paid off handsomely — O’Connor failed to win another leg thereafter.
Statistically, Rock finished with an impressive average of 97.42, while O’Connor trailed nearly ten points behind on 87.69. That result booked Rock’s place in Sunday’s action, where he joins the likes of Wessel Nijman, Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, and Jermaine Wattimena.
Sunday’s schedule promises high drama. Nijman faces Rob Cross in the afternoon’s second match, followed shortly by one of the most anticipated clashes of the day: Gian van Veen against teenage sensation Luke Littler. Later, the spotlight will fall on Michael van Gerwen, who meets Josh Rock — raising the question of whether Rock might dare to attempt similar antics against “Mighty Mike.” Finally, Jermaine Wattimena will battle Ryan Searle for the last remaining quarterfinal spot at the Czech Darts Open.
While this weekend’s tournament unfolds, the calendar is already turning toward the next events. The coming week will feature the Winmau Development Tour and the Players Championships, before the spotlight shifts to Amsterdam next weekend. There, the World Series of Darts Finals will take place, with the draw and schedule already set.