A Final That Swung Both Ways
It was Rock who edged ahead early and looked to be cruising, but Kevin Doets — who arrived in Graz in fine form having claimed his maiden PDC ranking title just days before — was never going to fold quietly. The Dutchman clawed his way back to level at 6-6, converting a 90 checkout to tie the match and send the Graz crowd into genuine excitement.
The decisive moment had come earlier, in the seventh leg, when Rock — trailing and needing a break of throw — stepped up and landed the 'Big Fish' 170 checkout to take a 4-3 lead. That three-dart combination, taking out the bullseye with his final dart, visibly shifted the momentum and set the tone for the closing stages.
With the match level at 6-6 and everything to play for, both players held their throws over the next two legs before Rock held his nerve in the deciding leg, closing out on double top to take the title 8-6 and claim the traditional green jacket awarded to the Austrian Darts Open champion.
Rock's Route to the Final
Rock's path through the draw was far from straightforward. In the last 16 he survived match darts against local hopeful Niko Springer before edging through 6-5. He then dispatched Cristo Reyes 6-4 in the quarter-finals before a commanding 7-3 semi-final victory over fellow Northern Irishman Daryl Gurney, in which he hit three ton-plus checkouts — including a match-winning 145 — to book his place in the final.
Doets' Brilliant Week
The result will have stung Doets, but it was hard to feel anything other than admiration for the Dutchman's week in Graz. Ranked 33rd in the PDC Order of Merit, he had arrived on the back of his first-ever PDC ranking title — making his run to the Austrian final all the more remarkable. He swept aside Ryan Joyce 6-2, beat Luke Woodhouse 6-3, and then produced a stunning 7-3 semi-final win over Rob Cross, punctuated by a brilliant 124 finish.
"Kevin has been playing unbelievable this year," Rock acknowledged after the match. Doets has quietly become one of the most consistent performers on the European Tour circuit and his performance in Graz will only add to the growing belief that bigger titles are coming for the Hawkeye.
Rock's Reaction and the Green Jacket
Rock was in characteristically good humour after collecting the trophy and the traditional green jacket — a nod to the Austrian Darts Open's long-standing tradition. In a neat piece of timing, he referenced Rory McIlroy's Masters victory earlier in the year: "I'm just happy because two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!"
It was a moment that captured something of Rock's personality — relaxed, funny, but clearly driven. He is a player who competes at the top of the Premier League Darts table for scoring but has found himself at the bottom of the standings this season — making this European Tour title even more significant as a morale-boosting result away from the TV arena.
Rankings Impact
The £35,000 winner's prize feeds directly into both the European Championship Race and the PDC ProTour Order of Merit. For Rock, it is a significant points haul in the European Championship Race — the table that determines which players qualify for the PDC European Championship later in 2026.
For Doets, a runner-up finish of this quality also moves him meaningfully up both tables. With his maiden ranking title already banked this year and this final appearance, the Dutchman is making a compelling case for a place at the European Championship.
You can track both players' live standings on their profile pages: Josh Rock and Kevin Doets. The full updated European Championship Race is available here.