Rock beats Clayton to win Players Championship title

Josh Rock won his third PDC ranking title of the year as he edged Jonny Clayton to claim the Players Championship 30 in Leicester.

The Northern Irishman earned a hard-fought 8-7 win after a 118 checkout in the deciding leg.

The 23-year-old has had a terrific ProTour campaign, clinching his maiden European Tour title with victory over Clayton in May's Dutch Darts Championship.

Rock followed that up with Players Championship 17 glory in August and now this title in Leicester, which was the final event of the season.

He raced into a 3-0 lead after a slow start from Clayton, only for the two-time World Cup winner to land a superb 132 combination.

After falling 6-2 behind, the Welshman again fought back to level after legs of 11, 13, 14 and 14 darts.

Clayton managed to force a decider, but he did not get the chance at a match-winning opportunity as Rock finished with 118 to claim success.

It meant Rock came seventh in the Players Championship, before the Players Championship Finals in England next month.

His attention will now turn to preparing for the Grand Slam of Darts which begins on 9 November.