Darts Star Josh Rock Blames Soapy Hands for Premier League Defeat
Premier League darts newcomer Josh Rock has pointed to an unusual factor behind his recent loss in Antwerp: a pre-match visit to the toilet that left his hands too slippery to grip his darts properly. The Northern Irishman suffered a 6-2 quarter-final defeat against Michael van Gerwen on the second night of the weekly roadshow, attributing the setback to the soap in the backstage facilities.
Unusual Culprit: Soap in Antwerp Toilet
Rock explained that he washed his hands with soap just before taking the stage, which removed the natural oils from his fingers and caused a loss of grip. "I went to the toilet just before I went on stage and obviously you wash your hands after going to the toilet, so I put the soap all over my hands and the next minute I’m up there, and I was like, ‘This isn’t going to go well’," he recounted. "I just could not feel it at all."
He confirmed this was a first-time occurrence, speculating that the specific soap used in Antwerp was to blame. "It must be just whatever soap was in the toilet at Antwerp that I used and it just obviously took all the oils out of my finger and lost all grip."
Learning from the Experience
Despite the frustrating defeat, Rock has taken a light-hearted approach to the incident. "I actually laughed at it straight away, because I knew what the problem was. If I played like that and didn’t know what the problem was then, obviously we have an issue," he said. He described trying various methods to regain grip, such as licking his fingers and rubbing them on the dart barrel, but to no avail.
As a result, he has devised a backup plan for future matches. "So now we’ve got a plan B, I’ve got a bit of chalk and wax in the case from now on," he stated, ensuring he is prepared to avoid similar issues.
Looking Ahead to Glasgow
Rock is now focusing on his next Premier League appearance in Glasgow, where he aims to secure his first points of the season. He is scheduled to open against Luke Humphries and, as a dedicated Rangers fan, hopes the local crowd will support him, especially with Celtic playing in the Europa League. "Luckily, Celtic are playing in the Europa League tomorrow, so hopefully they’re all out and there’s only Rangers fans in," he quipped.
Confident in his abilities, Rock added, "It’s on the day. If I turn up, I win. If I don’t turn up, I don’t win."
Other Quarter-Final Matches
In the other quarter-final matches for the Premier League event, Luke Littler will face Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton is set to compete against Gian van Veen, and Gerwyn Price will play Stephen Bunting. These matchups promise exciting action as the tournament progresses.
