By Michael Harrison
Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock was victorious over ‘Hawk Eye’ Kevin Doets in Graz, Austria, securing his second European Tour Title, at the 2026 Elten Safety Shoes Darts Open.
The final ended 8-6 to Rock, with both competitors scoring agonisingly close to each other. Both Rock and Doets accomplished a 101 first three dart average, a first nine average of 340 for Doets, and 333 for Rock. Both players showed clinical finishing, with Rock hitting his one and only 170 checkout of that tournament in the crucial game, and Doets hitting an 84 checkout on the bullseye.
The match started with four breaks of throw. After the 84-bullseye finish from Doets in the fourth leg, he was averaging 87 while Rock was on top with 92. Doets capitalised and took a 3-2 lead in legs with an explosive 11 dart leg ending on double 16.
After Doets fired in the 10th 180 score of the game, Josh Rock clawed back with a sucker punch ‘big fish’ finish taking out 170, swinging the match into his favour.
Highest checkout
Doets was not going out without a fight, after his highest checkout of the match arrived in the ninth leg, taking out 87 with a precisely placed dart into the top of the bullseye again after a 17 and 20 score, halving the deficit to 1 leg behind.
A massive twelfth leg followed, after Doets punished Rock’s sloppy error, aiming for a single 20 and hitting a 1. Requiring 90, the Dutchman’s highest checkout proceeded with a 20, treble 20 and a massive double 5 to equal the contest.
Pushing the match averages up to 100 a piece, in the final leg of the contest Rock fired in the thirteenth maximum of the match, leaving himself on a 60 checkout. Hawk Eye needed a 167 to stay in the tie, he agonisingly missed the treble 19 to leave himself on the bullseye, giving Rock a pole position for the match.
A single double 20-won Rock the match, correcting his runner up position when he was last at the Austria Darts Open, falling short to Johnny Clayton three years ago. He took home a green jacket, a hefty £35,000 cash prize and his first title of 2026.
Michael Van Gerwin darts set thrown in PDC board
Rock admitted he was not on his best form at times during the final. Only eight out of twenty-one checkouts were hit without a match dart missed, a change from his sparkling form leading up to the final.
Sportswriter Chris Trickett of Darts Planet explained: “When Josh Rock burst onto the scene, he was tipped to be the next big thing, and that didn’t change until (Luke) Littler came along. The player from Northern Ireland has refocused and got back to business since then, and broken into the Top 10. Slow and steady gains are more his thing, rather than one big all-out triumph – although he’s capable of that, too.”
Despite falling at the last hurdle, Doets was very close to breaking further ground in his darts career. He breezed past Chris Landman in the first round, before hammering 2025 World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searll 6-2 in the round of 16. He seemed to develop his confidence with every dart.
Darts player throwing into WINMAU board
From a 91 average against Searle, to a 94 first 3 average in the last 16, Doets was victorious against Ryan Joyce winning 6-2. In the quarter final his average spiked tremendously to an astonishing 112, defeating Englishman Luke Woodhouse 6-3.
He faced a fiery Rob Cross in the semi-final, beating him 7-3 with an impressive 124 checkout and a 53% checkout rate. Despite showing extreme resilience and determination, averaging north of 101 in his contest with Rock, he couldn’t get the checkouts he so eagerly wanted.
The PDC pro tour season is not over yet, with Leicester hosting a double game day in the players championship. The next destination of the European Tour takes place from Friday 22nd May to Sunday the 24th in Riesa, Germany.
For more information, why not check out episode 2 of TheClubHouse podcast linked down below! In today’s episode, we will discuss the top 5 darts players this year, with a special guest Rob Jeffries giving some insight into the Austrian Open.
Why not check out more if Chris Trickett’s darts news on Darts Planet TV?
