Josh Rock's Premier League Darts debut continues to be a tough slog, as the Northern Irishman fell to a second straight loss on Night Two at the AFAS Dôme in Antwerp. Rock was defeated 6-2 by Michael van Gerwen in the quarterfinals, leaving him still searching for his first win in the competition.
Rock, normally known for high averages, posted a lowly 79.34 average over eight legs and struggled mightily on the doubles, missing eleven of his thirteen checkout attempts. Van Gerwen capitalized ruthlessly, controlling the match from start to finish to secure a convincing 6-2 victory and book his place in the semifinals.
After the match, Rock took to social media to apologize to fans, offering insight into his performance. "Want to apologise to everyone who watched me," Rock wrote. "Felt fantastic up there but had no grip on my fingers, is what it is, we move on. All the best to Michael van Gerwen." The statement suggests a lack of feel or grip hampered his dart release, a critical issue in a precision sport like darts.
Rock remains one of two players without a point after two nights. Next week in Glasgow, he faces another tough assignment in the quarterfinals against former world champion Luke Humphries, who has been in excellent form. Before that, Rock is set to play on the ProTour in Wigan, having skipped the first two events of the season in Hildesheim but appearing on the entry list for the upcoming Players Championship events.
