PDC World Matchplay Darts - PDC World Matchplay Darts
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by Steve Ashfield | in PDC World Matchplay Darts Predictions
Unseeded Josh Rock bids to avoid a third consecutive World Matchplay Darts Championship first round exit. To do so, he must defeat the 14th seed Ross 'Smudger' Smith. Here's our match prediction.
Ross Smith reached the quarter-final of this tournament last year. He now takes on Rock in this match in which the first to ten legs is declared the winner. Whoever manages to achieve that will be up against either third seed Michael van Gerwen or unseeded Raymond van Barneveld.
Smith is ranked 14th in the world and that's just three places above his opponent. The Englishman has lost two of his last three matches ahead of these Championships. He'll look to regain the form shown earlier this year that saw him hit two nine-darters in one day.
The last World Championships saw Josh Rock get to the third round before losing to Chris Dobey who he could meet in the last eight of this tournament. Josh Rock was one half of the Northern Ireland team that won the 2025 Darts World Cup.
He has also reached the UK Open semi-finals this year and recently got to the quarter-finals in two Players' Championship events. Nine of his last 12 matches have been won and we back him to defeat Smith.
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Ross Smith - Josh Rock Key Points
- Rock has won nine of his last 12 matches.
- Rock was one half of the Northern Ireland team that recently won the World Cup.
- Two recent Players' Championship quarter-finals have been reached by Rock.
- Smith has failed to get past round three in each of his last four European Tour events.
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Our Ross Smith vs Josh Rock Prediction
Josh Rock is in great form at present with nine wins in his last 12 matches. Two recent Players' Championship quarter-finals have been reached by the Irishman. Along with Jonny Clayton, he won the World Cup for Northern Ireland and was in excellent form.
Ross Smith has not been matching the form shown by his opponent in recent weeks. He lost in round two of the World Championships. That was followed by a first round exit in the World Masters. Our Ross Smith v Josh Rock prediction is Josh Rock to win.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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