Josh Rock romps to Austrian Darts Open title
Josh Rock stormed to his second European Tour title at the 2026 Austrian Darts Open with an 8-6 victory over Kevin Doets in the final on Sunday.
Rock returned to his brilliant best to claim glory in Graz, registering successive ton-plus averages in the semi-finals and final.
The Northern Irishman produced a clinical display to see off Patrik Kovacs 6-3 in his opening match on Saturday, before surviving three match darts from Niko Springer to edge through a last-leg decider and reach the quarter-finals.
There, he overcame a resurgent Cristo Reyes with a 6-4 victory, despite the Spaniard landing a clinical 170 checkout.
The 25-year-old faced his World Cup partner Daryl Gurney in the semi-finals, delivering a 100.15 average to thrash his compatriot 7-3 and set up a mouth-watering final against Doets.
The final began with four breaks of throw, although the Dutchman took the initiative with an 11-dart hold to lead 3-2.
Rock rallied, taking out a show-stopping 170 checkout – the fourth ‘Big Fish’ of the day – as he stormed into a 5-3 lead.
Doets remarkably kept pace, capitalising on a sloppy missed dart at single 20 on a 78 finish from Rock to break and level the contest at 6-6.
Nevertheless, the Northern Irishman redeemed his error in the next leg, taking out 78 with his last dart in hand to immediately break back and throw for the match.
A 14-dart hold sealed Rock’s maiden Austrian Darts Open and customary green jacket, as he finished the match with a stellar 101.5 average – his highest of the weekend.
“I’m very relieved,” admitted Rock, who finished runner-up in his first-ever European Tour final at the Austrian Open in 2023.
“To come here this weekend and win is a massive achievement. I’m just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!
“I made my first final against Jonny [Clayton] here, and when he got the jacket I was kind of jealous.
“Then Martin [Schindler] beat me last year in the semi-final and won it, so I was determined to win it this year, and I’m happy I finally got it.
“Kevin has been playing unbelievable this year, and he has proved it by winning his first ProTour on Monday.
“He’s only going to keep winning more, I’m just grateful I got the edge against him in this one.”
Doets – six days on from winning his first PDC ranking title at Players Championship 13 – threatened to break further ground with a first European Tour title in Graz, but agonisingly fell short at the final hurdle.
The Dutchman kicked off his campaign at the Stadthalle with a 6-3 triumph over Chris Landman on Friday, missing just two attempts at double throughout the contest.
This was followed by another clinical display on Saturday, as the 28-year-old saw off World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle 6-2 with six from ten on the doubles.
Doets recorded the same scoreline in Sunday’s Third Round victory over Ryan Joyce, before producing a the performance of the tournament to defeat Luke Woodhouse 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
The Dutch star averaged 112.3 in a dazzling display, firing in a 170 checkout midway through the tussle before sealing the win with a 141 finish to reach his second European Tour semi-final in as many months.
Once more, Doets delivered a deadly display of finishing, landing 54 per cent of his double attempts to dump out former World Champion Rob Cross 7-3 and reach the first European Tour final of his career.
“I was sweating so much [in the final] – my hair is wet!” said Doets, who averaged north of 101 in defeat against Rock.
“He wouldn’t stop! Whatever I threw at him, he did better.
“He was the deserved winner today, although I felt like I had my chances. It was a great final, and let’s hope for more.
“I want to be a regular in the Premier League and become a top eight, top four player in the world, or World Champion one day – that’s everyone’s goal. We keep fighting for it.”
In the other quarter-finals, Cross thrashed Andrew Gilding 6-1 thanks to a 50 per cent doubles success rate, after also accounting for four-time Austrian Open winner Michael van Gerwen in the Last 16.
Gurney, meanwhile, dethroned reigning champion Martin Schindler with a comfortable 6-2 victory with 55 per cent on the doubles.
Austrian Darts Open 2026 Day Three Results
Sunday May 10
Afternoon Session
Last 16
Kevin Doets 6-2 Ryan Joyce
James Wade 1-6 Luke Woodhouse
Kim Huybrechts 5-6 Andrew Gilding
Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Rob Cross
Danny Noppert 4-6 Cristo Reyes
Josh Rock 6-5 Niko Springer
Ross Smith 2-6 Martin Schindler
Madars Razma 3-6 Daryl Gurney
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Kevin Doets 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
Rob Cross 6-1 Andrew Gilding
Cristo Reyes 4-6 Josh Rock
Martin Schindler 2-6 Daryl Gurney
Semi-Finals
Kevin Doets 7-3 Rob Cross
Josh Rock 7-3 Daryl Gurney
Final
Josh Rock 8-6 Kevin Doets
