Broughshane’s Josh Rock is into the second round of the Winmau World Masters after he opened the tournament with a comfortable 3-1 win over the Netherland’s Jerome Wattimena in Milton Keynes.
Rock was just shy of a ton-average in the first round tie, clocking in at 98.16, but was clinical on the doubles as he set up a second round clash with either World No.1 Luke Humphries or Joe Cullen.
Having struggled in the TV tournaments last year, Rock told the Belfast Telegraph that his focus for 2025 is to perform better in the majors, and this was a strong start as he hit five maximums on his way to victory.
Buoyed by getting married to now wife Sarah on Tuesday, the 23-year-old won the first set on throw, however World No.35 Wattimena would claim the second set as he broke Rock’s throw in the second leg.
But that only seemed to kick the Co Antrim man into life as he produced a stunning third set, averaging over 125 and having four visits to the oche of over 140 as he roared into a 2-1 lead by breaking the Wattimena throw.
It looked like a deciding set was in the offing when the Dutchman held his throw in the opening leg of the fourth set and Rock did the same in the following leg, but the Northern Irishman would prevail by breaking Wattimena again in the third leg to take the win.
Either Humphries or Cullen now await in Saturday’s last-16, the English pair meeting in their second round tie later this evening.