josh rock was beaten 6-4 by Luke Littler in a quarter-final at Premier League Darts night five in Cardiff; the result came during a night that put Jonny Clayton through to the final and set up a semi-final against Gerwyn Price. The evening at Utilita Arena, Cardiff produced a run of results that also saw Luke Humphries lose 4-6 to Jonny Clayton and a set of quarter-final scores that reshaped the night. Match statistics showed Clayton averaged 94. 98 with 35. 29% on the outer ring while Humphries averaged 91. 06.
Josh Rock exit and quarter-final scoreboard
The quarter-finals ended with Michael van Gerwen losing 1-6 to Luke Humphries, Van Veen 4-6 Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price 6-5 Bunting and Luke Littler 6-4 Rock. That Littler 6-4 Rock line confirmed Rock’s exit from the night’s competition and left Littler in position to face Gerwyn Price in the semi-final. Jonny Clayton progressed through his semi and is now into the final, setting up pressure on Price to make an all-Welsh final.
Immediate reactions from the arena
Philip Marsh, correspondent at Utilita Arena, Cardiff, said: “It is all going to script for the home crowd in Cardiff. “
John Part, Former PDC world champion, commented: “That’s a bit of a shocker from Jonny Clayton. He wasn’t even close there!”
From the night’s play the finishing from Humphries was highlighted as an issue, with his doubles rate drawing particular comment after the match that saw him average 91. 06 while Clayton capitalised on chances to secure victory.
Quick context: Lukes under pressure and table positions
Four nights into the campaign, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries had managed three wins between them, with Humphries on two match wins in the season and Littler’s only tally coming against Humphries on Night 2 in Antwerp. That sequence left the two top-ranked players placed second- and third-bottom on four points, with two of Littler’s points awarded after an opponent withdrew from a Night 3 clash due to illness.
What’s next heading into the final
The immediate focus moves to the semi-final between Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler, with Jonny Clayton already through to the final; the concluding match is scheduled for May 28 (ET). Meanwhile josh rock’s campaign for the night ended with the quarter-final loss, and attention now turns to whether Littler or Price can press on to challenge Clayton in the final on May 28 (ET).
