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Rowby-John Rodriguez
View on WikipediaRowby-John Rodriguez (born 27 March 1994) is an Austrian professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Nicknamed "Little John", he was runner-up at the PDC World Cup of Darts in both 2021 and 2024, partnering Mensur Suljović for Austria. A former PDC Tour Card holder, he was the beaten finalist at the 2022 European Darts Matchplay – on the PDC European Tour – and is a two-time winner on both of the second-tier PDC circuits – the PDC Challenge Tour and the PDC Development Tour.
Key Information
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Career
[edit]In 2010, as a 16-year-old, Rodriguez won the Austrian National Championship, beating Franz Thaler 5–0 in the final.[1]
At 2014's Q-School Rodriguez was one win away from winning a card on Day 2 but lost to Gerwyn Price 5–3.[2] However, after all four events had been played Rodriguez had done enough to finish ninth on the Q–School Order of Merit and earn a two-year tour card.[3] His first PDC major was the UK Open where he was knocked out 5–1 by Tony Randall in the first round.[4]
In May, Rodriguez reached the final of the PDC World Youth Championship where he lost 6–4 to Keegan Brown at the O2 Arena in London as part of the Premier League finals night. Reaching the final secured him a place in the 2014 Grand Slam of Darts.[5][6] Rodriguez was now Austria's number two player behind Mensur Suljović and they teamed up at the World Cup of Darts, but lost both their singles matches in the second round against the Belgium brothers of Kim and Ronny Huybrechts.[7] Rodriguez reached the quarter-finals of a Pro Tour event for the first time at the 14th Players Championship defeating the likes of Gary Anderson, Paul Nicholson and Jamie Caven, before losing 6–1 to Ian White.[8] His play throughout the year earned him a debut in the European Championship where he lost 6–2 to Robert Thornton in the opening round.[9] At the Grand Slam, Rodriguez beat world number three Adrian Lewis 5–2 in his opening group game before losing 5–1 to Dave Chisnall.[10] He went into his final group game knowing a win over Brown would see him qualify for the last 16 and, despite coming back from 3–0 down to level at 3–3, he lost 5–3.[11]
2015 season
[edit]Rodriguez made his debut at the 2015 World Championship after he qualified through the Pro Tour Order of Merit.[12] However, he ran into an in-form Raymond van Barneveld who hit finishes of 167 and 170 as he restricted Rodriguez to two legs during the match in a 3–0 defeat. Rodriguez averaged 79.22 which was over 20 points lower than his opponent's, but he still broke into the top 64 on the Order of Merit for the first time after the tournament concluded as he was ranked world number 58.[13][14] He won the opening Development Tour event of the year by beating Jamie Lewis 4–1 in the final.[15] Rodriguez and Suljović were eliminated in the last 16 of the World Cup for the second consecutive year, this time to Germany.[16] From the last 32 onwards he knocked out Kim Huybrechts, Wayne Jones and Mensur Suljović at the 14th Players Championship to play in his first PDC Pro Tour semi-final, where he lost 6–2 against Jelle Klaasen.[17] A 6–4 win over Christian Kist saw Rodriguez make the second round of the European Championship in which he could only average 73.43 against John Henderson in a 10–2 defeat.[18] After losing 5–3 to Robbie Green and beating Martin Phillips 5–2 at the Grand Slam, Rodriguez needed a win over Phil Taylor to qualify for the last 16, but he lost 5–2.[19]
2016 season
[edit]Rodriguez hit the first 170 finish of the 2016 World Championship, but lost each of the three sets played against Dave Chisnall in the first round by deciding legs.[20] He reached the quarter-finals of the first UK Open Qualifier, but was beaten 6–1 by Adrian Lewis and he lost 6–2 to Lee Evans in the second round of the main event.[21][22] Rodriguez was defeated in the final of three Development Tour events in 2016.[23]
Rodriguez and Mensur Suljović eliminated Italy and Singapore to ensure Austria played in their first World Cup quarter-final, where Suljović was whitewashed by Phil Taylor and Rodriguez lost 4–1 to Adrian Lewis.[24] A couple of quarter-finals out of the 20 Players Championship events qualified him for the Finals and he beat Ronny Huybrechts 6–4, before being thrashed 6–0 by Joe Cullen in the second round.[25]
2017 season
[edit]Rodriguez squared his first round match with Dave Chisnall at the 2017 World Championship at two sets apiece, but lost all three legs of the decider.[26] Austria played England in the quarter-finals of the 2017 World Cup for the second successive year. Mensur Suljović thrashed Adrian Lewis 4–0 and Rodriguez lost 4–1 to Chisnall, before Austria were defeated 4–2 in the decisive doubles match.[27]
On the last weekend of the PDC Development Tour Rodriguez reached the final twice and won one of them 5:4 against Luke Humphries. This was enough to qualify for the 2017 PDC World Youth Championship, but after winning only one match there, Rodriguez missed out on qualifying for the other Majors, including the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship. However, he was able to defend his Tour Card via the rankings.
2018–2020: Downturn in form, loses his Tour Card
[edit]His form improved a little in 2018, when he qualified three times for the European Tour, but only won one match in the 2018 Dutch Darts Championship, won the fifth tournament on the PDC Development Tour and reached the final of the eleventh tournament.
In October he defeated his brother Rusty-Jake Rodriguez in the final of the South East European Qualifier for the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship. Before that, however, he was eliminated in the group stage of the 2019 PDC World Youth Championship. After reaching the last 16 of the Players Championships and the third round several times, he qualified for the 2019 Players Championship Finals but lost in round one to Danny Noppert.
In the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship Rodriguez met Ricky Evans in round one. Rodriguez won 3–1 and thus won a match for the first time at a World Championship. In the second round, he then lost to Cristo Reyes 3–2, missing match darts.
Having retained his Tour card once again, Rodriguez reached the last 16 of Players Championship 6. However he lost in the first round once again at 2019 UK Open.
Rodriguez reached another round of 16 on the tour at the 2019 Dutch Darts Masters, where he lost to Mervyn King in a last-leg decider. He even reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 Austrian Darts Championship after defeating Josh Payne, Daryl Gurney and Mike De Decker before losing 5-6 to Peter Wright.
Thanks to these successes, Rodriguez qualified for the 2020 PDC World Darts Championship via the PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit, but was unable to win a set against Philippine qualifier Noel Malicdem.
At the 2020 UK Open Rodriguez didn't win a match for the fourth time. During the break forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodriguez took part in the first PDC Home Tour. Rodriguez also returned to the 2020 PDC World Cup of Darts after a two-year break and reached the quarter-finals with Mensur Suljović for the third time. The pair started the tournament with a 5-2 win over the USA, after which they beat José de Sousa and José Marquês from Portugal. In the quarter-finals, again against England, Suljović first defeated Michael Smith 4–3 before he lost to Rob Cross by the same score. In the doubles England won 4–3.
However, due to his lack of success on the 2020 PDC Pro Tour, Rodriguez failed to qualify for the other majors and lost his Tour Card.
2021: A year without a Tour card
[edit]Rodriguez qualified for the final stage at Q-School 2021, but did not do enough to win the Tour card back. However, Rodriguez still qualified for the 2021 UK Open, where he won matches for the first time. He beat Brian Raman in the first round and Kevin McDine in the second round before defeating Josh Payne 6–5 in the third round. He lost to Jonny Clayton in the fourth round.
As a call-up for Players Championship events, filling in virtue of his 2021 Challenge Tour Order of Merit ranking, Rodriguez made several round of 16 appearances, and thus qualified for the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship via the ProTour Order of Merit Ranking.
Rodriguez once again played alongside Mensur Suljović for Austria in the 2021 PDC World Cup of Darts. In the first round, the pair defeated the Philippines 5–1 before winning both their singles matches against Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri Van den Bergh from Belgium in the second round. They faced Northern Ireland in the quarter-finals and while Suljović narrowly lost to Brendan Dolan, Rodriguez beat Daryl Gurney 4–2. Suljović and Rodriguez then won 4–3 in the doubles to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Austria faced the England team of James Wade and Dave Chisnall, Rodriguez averaged 102 in a 4–1 win in his singles match while Suljović did the same. This meant Austria reached the final for the first time. However John Henderson and Peter Wright from Scotland won 3–1 in the final.
Rodriguez qualified for the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts by virtue of being a runner-up at the 2021 World Cup, beating Chris Dobey and Stephen Bunting in the group stage to qualify for the knockout phase. In the round of 16 he was beaten by James Wade 10–2.
2022–2024
[edit]In the 2022 PDC World Championship Rodriguez won against Nick Kenny 3–0 in the first round, but was whitewashed by Luke Humphries 3–0 in sets in the second round, which meant he finished 65th on the Order of Merit, one place outside the top 64 required to keep his Tour Card. As a result, he had to take part in the PDC Q-School in January 2022, where he regained his Tour card via the European Q-School Order of Merit.
He then performed well in the European Tour events. He reached the quarter-finals of both the 2022 Czech Darts Open and the 2022 European Darts Grand Prix. Rodriguez made his first final at a Euro Tour tournament, defeating Danny Noppert, Gerwyn Price, Gabriel Clemens, Nathan Aspinall and Madars Razma at the 2022 European Darts Matchplay in Trier. In the final he met Luke Humphries, Rodriguez missed a match dart in the deciding leg and Humphries therefore won 8–7.[28] Rodriguez withdrew from the next European Tour event, the 2022 Hungarian Darts Trophy, for family reasons.[29]
At the 2022 Players Championship Finals he lost to Joe Cullen in the first round. At the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship he lost to Lourence Ilagan in the first round.
On the 2023 European Tour, he only played in three tournaments and thus only reached 75th place in the European Tour Order of Merit. He was the only Austrian to qualify for the 2023 Players Championship Finals.
In the 2024 World Cup of Darts, Rodriguez and his Austria teammate Mensur Suljović were the runners-up, reaching the final where they lost to England.[30]
Personal life
[edit]Rodriguez is of Filipino descent.[31] His older brother, Roxy-James Rodriguez, is a former professional darts player.[32] His younger brother, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, is also a darts player.[33]
World Championship results
[edit]PDC
[edit]- 2015: First round (lost to Raymond van Barneveld 0–3)
- 2016: First round (lost to Dave Chisnall 0–3)
- 2017: First round (lost to Dave Chisnall 2–3)
- 2019: Second round (lost to Cristo Reyes 2–3)
- 2020: First round (lost to Noel Malicdem 0–3)
- 2022: Second round (lost to Luke Humphries 0–3)
- 2023: First round (lost to Lourence Ilagan 2–3)
Career finals
[edit]PDC team finals: 2
[edit]| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team | Teammate | Opponents in the final | Score[N 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 2021 | World Cup of Darts |  Austria
|
Mensur Suljović
|
 Scotland – Peter Wright and John Henderson
|
1–3 (m) |
| Runner-up | 2. | 2024 | World Cup of Darts (2) |  England – Luke Humphries and Michael Smith
|
6–10 (l) |
- ^ (l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets, (m) = score in matches.
Performance timeline
[edit]| Tournament | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDC Ranked televised events | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | DNP | DNQ | 1R | 1R | 1R | DNQ | 2R | 1R | DNQ | 2R | 1R | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||
| UK Open | DNP | 1R | DNQ | 2R | DNQ | 1R | 2R | 4R | 3R | 4R | 4R | |||||||||||||||||||
| World Matchplay | DNQ | 2R | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Championship | DNP | 1R | 2R | DNQ | 2R | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam | DNP | RR | RR | DNQ | 2R | DNQ | RR | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Players Championship Finals | DNP | DNQ | 2R | DNQ | 1R | DNQ | 1R | 1R | 1R | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-ranked televised events | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup | DNP | 2R | 2R | QF | QF | DNP | QF | F | 2R | RR | F | |||||||||||||||||||
| World Series Finals | NH | 2R | Did not qualify | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDC World Youth Championship | 2R | F | 2R | QF | 2R | RR | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year-end ranking | NR | 58 | 41 | 41 | 59 | 72 | 88 | 71 | 65 | 51 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||
PDC European Tour
| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Did not participate | EDG 3R |
EDT DNP | ||||||||||
| 2015 | GDC DNQ |
GDT 1R |
GDM 1R |
DDM 2R |
IDO 3R |
EDO 2R |
EDT 3R |
EDM QF |
EDG 1R | ||||
| 2016 | DDM 2R |
GDM DNQ |
GDT 1R |
EDM 2R |
ADO 2R |
Did not qualify | GDC 2R | ||||||
| 2017 | GDC DNQ |
GDM 3R |
Did not qualify | ADO 1R |
EDO DNQ |
DDM 2R |
Did not qualify | ||||||
| 2018 | EDO DNQ |
GDG 1R |
Did not qualify | DDM 1R |
Did not qualify | DDC 2R |
DNQ | ||||||
| 2019 | Did not qualify | DDM 3R |
DDO DNQ |
CDO 1R |
ADC QF |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2020 | BDC 1R |
Did not qualify | |||||||||||
| 2022 | Did not qualify | ADO 2R |
EDO 2R |
CDO QF |
EDG QF |
DDC DNQ |
EDM F |
HDT WD |
DNQ | GDT 2R | |||
| 2023 | Did not qualify | ADO 1R |
DDC DNQ |
BDO DNQ |
CDO 1R |
Did not qualify | HDT 3R |
GDC DNQ | |||||
PDC Players Championships
| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Did not participate | VIE Prel. |
Did not participate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
DNP | WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
CRA 1R |
CRA 2R |
COV 1R |
COV 4R |
CRA 1R |
CRA QF |
DUB 3R |
DUB 3R |
CRA 1R |
CRA 1R |
COV 2R |
COV 3R | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
Did not participate | CRA 2R |
CRA 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG SF |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
DUB 1R |
DUB 2R |
COV 3R |
COV 2R | |||||||||||||
| 2016 | BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 4R |
BAR 3R |
DNP | COV 1R |
COV 1R |
BAR 4R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR QF |
DUB 2R |
DUB 1R |
BAR QF |
BAR 1R | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
DNP | MIL 1R |
MIL 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
WIG DNP |
WIG 2R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
DUB 1R |
DUB 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R | ||||||||||
| 2018 | BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 4R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 3R |
WIG 1R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 3R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
DUB 1R |
DUB 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 3R | |||||||||
| 2019 | WIG 1R |
WIG 3R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 4R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 4R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
DUB 1R |
DUB 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R | |
| 2020 | BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
MIL 3R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 3R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 1R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 2R |
NIE 3R |
NIE 3R |
COV 1R |
COV 3R |
COV 1R |
COV 1R |
COV 1R | ||||||||
| 2021 [nb 1] |
BOL 2R |
BOL 1R |
BOL 2R |
BOL 3R |
MIL 3R |
MIL 3R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 3R |
NIE 4R |
NIE 4R |
NIE 2R |
NIE 4R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 3R |
COV DNP |
COV 1R |
COV 1R |
COV 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R | |
| 2022 | BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
NIE 2R |
NIE 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 3R |
BAR 3R |
BAR QF |
BAR 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 4R |
BAR 1R | |
| 2023 | BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 2R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 1R |
LEI 2R |
LEI 3R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 2R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 2R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R | |
| 2024 | WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
LEI 2R |
LEI 2R |
HIL 1R |
HIL 1R |
LEI 3R |
LEI 2R |
HIL 1R |
HIL 1R |
HIL 1R |
HIL 1R |
DNP | MIL 2R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 2R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
LEI 2R |
LEI 1R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 4R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 2R | ||
- ^ Not a Tour card holder
| Performance Table Legend | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Won the tournament | F | Finalist | SF | Semifinalist | QF | Quarterfinalist | #R RR Prel. |
Lost in # round Round-robin Preliminary round |
DQ | Disqualified |
| DNQ | Did not qualify | DNP | Did not participate | WD | Withdrew | NH | Tournament not held | NYF | Not yet founded | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "2010 Austria National Championships Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "2014 PDC Tour Card Qualifying School Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "2014 PDC Qualifying School Day Four". PDC. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "Coral UK Open - Friday Afternoon". PDC. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "Keegan Brown claims world youth champion darts crown". BBC Sport. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ "Unicorn World Youth Joy For Brown". PDC. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "bwin World Cup of Darts Second Round". PDC. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "Mighty Mike Claims Crawley Crown". PDC. Archived from the original on September 18, 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ "888.com European Championship Day One". PDC. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ "SINGHA Beer Grand Slam Day One". PDC. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "SINGHA Beer Grand Slam - Monday". PDC. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ "William Hill World Champs Field". PDC. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ "William Hill World Championship Day Five". PDC. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Order of Merit on 5 January 2015". PDC. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "Coventry Crowns For Rodriguez & Van Peer". PDC. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ "bwin World Cup of Darts Quarter-Finals". PDC. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- ^ "ProTour Joy For Klaasen In Wigan". PDC. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ "Unibet European Championship Day Two". PDC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ "2015 Grand Slam Of Darts Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ "William Hill World Championship Day Six". PDC. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Lewis Powers To Wigan Title". PDC. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "2016 Coral UK Open Day One". PDC. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "Rowby-John Rodriguez 2016". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "2016 PDC World Cup of Darts Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "2016 Players Championship Finals Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "William Hill World Championship Day Eight". PDC. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ "Dutch Delight In Betway World Cup of Darts". PDC. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Gorton, Josh (3 July 2022). "Humphries denies Rodriguez to prevail in European Darts Matchplay epic". PDC. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ Gorton, Josh (2 September 2022). "Rowby-John Rodriguez withdraws from Hungarian Darts Trophy". PDC. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ ""I was crying for a long time after the final" - Rowby-John Rodriguez shares World Cup of Darts heartache after another narrow miss for Austria". Dartsnews.com. 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
- ^ "Our Players - Rowby-John Rodriguez". Shot Darts. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "European Darts Trophy Draw & Qualifiers". PDC. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ "2017 Austrian Darts Open day one". PDC. 23 June 2017. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
External links
[edit]Rowby-John Rodriguez
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Rowby-John Rodriguez was born on 27 March 1994 in Vienna, Austria, to Filipino parents who immigrated from the Philippines to Vienna approximately 25 years prior.[9][1] His family maintained strong ties to their Philippine roots while establishing a life in Austria, where all four Rodriguez brothers were born and raised.[9][2] Of Filipino-Austrian descent, Rodriguez grew up in a household deeply connected to darts, with his father serving as a proficient player who played a pivotal role in introducing the sport to his sons before stepping back to prioritize their development.[9] His mother, while not involved in the sport, supported the family's passion for it.[9] This environment fostered an early and immersive exposure to darts for Rodriguez, shaping his foundational interest from a very young age.[9][2] Rodriguez has three brothers who share the family's affinity for darts: an older brother, Roxy-James Rodriguez, who pursued a career as a professional darts player; a younger brother, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, who currently competes in the PDC Development Tour; and a youngest brother, Ridgy-Jorg Rodriguez, who competed in junior darts events.[10][11][12][13] The siblings' shared involvement highlights the darts-centric dynamics of the Rodriguez household, where competition and practice were integral to family life.[2]Introduction to darts
Rowby-John Rodriguez, born in Vienna to a family with Filipino heritage that instilled a strong competitive spirit, was introduced to darts at a young age through his family's passion for the sport. Growing up in a household where all four brothers played, Rodriguez began practicing locally in Vienna clubs alongside his siblings Rusty-Jake, Roxy-James, and Ridgy-Jorg, using basic equipment to hone his skills. His father, a former player who had paused the game to focus on family, played a pivotal role in encouraging the brothers' involvement, fostering regular practice sessions that built Rodriguez's foundational technique and enthusiasm for the game.[2][9][13] Rodriguez's early involvement extended to youth tournaments, where he competed in local and national junior events, gradually developing his throwing style and competitive edge through consistent play in informal settings. These formative experiences, often in community clubs around Vienna, emphasized precision and consistency over advanced setups, allowing him to refine his abilities without professional coaching. His brothers' participation provided both rivalry and support, pushing him to improve during family and local matches.[9][2] A breakthrough came in 2010 at the age of 16, when Rodriguez won the Austrian National Championships with a decisive whitewash victory in the final against Franz Thaler, defeating him 5-0. This triumph marked his first major title and highlighted his emerging talent in the sport's domestic scene.[14][2]Professional career
Pre-PDC career
Rowby-John Rodriguez's darts career gained momentum with an early national victory in 2010, when he secured a whitewash win at the Austrian National Championship at age 16.[2] Rodriguez began competing in structured international events the following year, participating in the PDC Youth Tour starting in 2011. At the PDC Development Tour Event 3 in March 2011, he advanced to the last 32, marking his entry into PDC junior competitions and demonstrating early promise among under-21 players.[15] Over the next few years, he maintained consistent performances on the tour, achieving multiple last-32 finishes and building rankings that positioned him among Europe's top youth talents.[16] In 2013, at age 18, Rodriguez claimed his first major PDC title by winning the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Event 1 in Barnsley, defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-1 in the final to earn £500. This breakthrough victory highlighted his potential, as he overcame seeded players like Jamie Lewis and Stuart Bousfield en route to the title, shortly before turning 19.[17] His strong showings on the PDC Development Tour that year further elevated his early rankings, with regular top finishes contributing to his qualification for higher-profile junior events across Europe.[18] Rodriguez reached the pinnacle of his youth career in 2014 by advancing to the final of the PDC World Youth Championship at The O2 Arena in London, where he fell 6-4 to Keegan Brown despite leading 3-1 at one point. As runner-up, he earned £5,000 and solidified his reputation as one of the continent's leading young players.[19] Based in Vienna, Rodriguez honed his skills through dedicated training at local facilities, supported initially by family involvement and emerging sponsorships that provided equipment and travel backing for European youth tournaments. His regimen emphasized consistent practice and family encouragement, laying the foundation for his transition to professional circuits.[9]2014–2017: Breakthrough years
Rodriguez earned his PDC Tour Card in January 2014 by accumulating the highest points total on the Qualifying School Order of Merit, granting him a two-year place on the professional circuit. This breakthrough allowed the then-19-year-old Austrian to compete in his first PDC events, including the UK Open where he advanced to the last 128 stage. Building on his youth success, Rodriguez quickly adapted to the professional level, marking the start of his ascent in the rankings.[20][21] Rodriguez made his PDC World Darts Championship debut in the 2015 edition, but was defeated 3-0 by seeded player Raymond van Barneveld in the first round at Alexandra Palace. Despite the early exit, he demonstrated potential with consistent performances on the Pro Tour throughout 2015, securing his first victories in Players Championship events and reaching the quarter-finals of Players Championship 3 after beating players including Stephen Bunting. These results helped him qualify for the 2016 World Championship via the Pro Tour Order of Merit.[22][23][24] In the 2016 PDC World Darts Championship, Rodriguez claimed his first victory at the event by defeating Aden Kirk 3-1 in the opening round, advancing to the Last 64 for the first time before losing 3-0 to Dave Chisnall in the second round. He replicated this achievement in the 2017 edition, reaching the Last 64 with a first-round win over Paul Lim 3-0, only to fall 3-2 to Chisnall once again. These TV major appearances highlighted his growing competitiveness on the big stage.[25][26][27] Rodriguez's consistent deep runs in Pro Tour events during this period propelled him into the top 50 of the PDC Order of Merit by late 2017, with career earnings reaching approximately £50,000 from ranking tournaments over these years. His progress established him as an emerging talent in European darts, setting the foundation for further success.[28]2018–2020: Downturn and loss of Tour Card
Following his breakthrough performances in the mid-2010s, Rowby-John Rodriguez experienced a downturn in form during 2018, marked by inconsistent results on the PDC Pro Tour that prevented him from maintaining momentum. Despite reaching the latter stages in some events earlier in the year, his overall output declined, with frequent early exits in Players Championships and UK Q-School Orders of Merit qualifiers, contributing to a gradual drop in his PDC Order of Merit ranking to around 49th by October 2018.[29] In 2019, Rodriguez's struggles continued, as evidenced by his year-to-date earnings of approximately £26,000, placing him 72nd on the PDC Order of Merit by season's end. He qualified for the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship via the Pro Tour and advanced to the second round (last 64) after defeating Ricky Evans 3-1, but was eliminated 3-2 by Cristo Reyes in a match where Rodriguez averaged 85.28. Early exits became the norm in other major tournaments, including last-32 defeats in several European Tour events, further eroding his ranking and highlighting a lack of consistency compared to his prior peak.[30][31] The year 2020 exacerbated these challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which suspended the Pro Tour from March until September, limiting Rodriguez to fewer than 20 events and resulting in annual earnings below £20,000. His ranking slipped to 71st on the PDC Order of Merit following the 2020 World Championship, placing him outside the top 64 and leading to the loss of his Tour Card at the conclusion of the season. Personal issues, including difficulties in his private life that Rodriguez later attributed to impacting his focus and performance, compounded the pressure from his earlier successes.[32][33]2021: Qualifier return and World Cup runner-up
In 2021, Rodriguez competed without a PDC Tour Card, having lost it at the end of 2020, which limited his access to the full Pro Tour schedule and contributed to a stagnation in his world rankings. Motivated by this setback, he focused on secondary tours to rebuild his form and secure prize money. He participated in the PDC Unicorn European Challenge Tour, a key pathway for non-card holders, where he achieved his most notable success by winning Event 3 in Niedernhausen, Germany, on July 3. In the final, Rodriguez defeated Toni Alcinas 5-1, earning £2,500 and demonstrating strong averaging with several high checkouts, including a 121 finish earlier in the tournament.[34] This victory helped Rodriguez regain momentum on the secondary circuit, though his overall earnings from the European Challenge Tour totaled £4,350 across multiple events, placing him third on the Order of Merit.[35] Additionally, as Austria's second-ranked player behind Mensur Suljović, he earned a spot in the 2021 PDC World Cup of Darts through national qualification criteria based on combined rankings. Representing Austria alongside Suljović, the pair advanced to the final in Jena, Germany, defeating teams from Chinese Taipei, the United States, Poland, and England en route. In the final on September 12, they lost 3-1 to Scotland's Peter Wright and John Henderson, with Suljović winning the singles opener 4-1 before Scotland took the subsequent matches, including a 4-3 doubles decider.[36] The runner-up finish marked Austria's best World Cup result at the time and provided Rodriguez with £25,000 in prize money, boosting his profile despite the lack of full Tour access.[36] Rodriguez also qualified for the 2021 Ladbrokes UK Open via the Q School Order of Merit for non-card holders, entering in the first round. He progressed to the last 64 stage, defeating Josh Payne 6-5 in the second round with an average of 88.89, before being eliminated by Darius Labanauskas 7-5.[37] Throughout the year, he relied on invitational spots for majors like the World Cup and UK Open, as well as Challenge Tour events, to maintain competitiveness, though the absence of regular Pro Tour participation prevented significant ranking improvements. These efforts on secondary tours nonetheless signaled an initial recovery, setting the stage for his return to full PDC status the following year.2022–2024: Regaining Tour Card and resurgence
Rodriguez regained his PDC Tour Card in January 2022 by topping the Order of Merit at the European Q-School event in Milton Keynes, securing a two-year place on the Pro Tour after a year away. This victory, achieved through superior leg difference in a tight five-point tie, marked his return to full-time competition alongside his brother Rusty-Jake, who also held a card. The achievement followed his strong showing as a qualifier in the 2021 World Cup of Darts, where his partnership with Mensur Suljović provided inspiration for their continued collaboration representing Austria. In his first full season back, Rodriguez enjoyed a breakthrough at the 2022 European Darts Matchplay, reaching his first European Tour final by defeating players including Ryan Searle and Damon Heta before falling 8–7 to [Luke Humphries](/page/Luke Humphries) in a thrilling decider. He also made competitive runs at majors, advancing to the second round of the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship with a 3–0 win over Nick Kenny, only to lose 3–1 to Humphries, and reaching the last 16 at the 2022 World Matchplay by upsetting Jonny Clayton 10–7 before a 16–12 defeat to Dimitri Van den Bergh. These results helped him climb into the PDC Order of Merit top 100, signaling a resurgence after previous struggles. Rodriguez and Suljović renewed their successful pairing at the 2024 PDC World Cup of Darts, reaching the final for the second time after victories over Chinese Taipei, India, Chinese Taipei again in the second round, and Scotland in the semi-finals. They ultimately lost 10–6 to England (Luke Humphries and Michael Smith) in Frankfurt, earning £25,000 each but falling short of the title. At the 2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, Rodriguez achieved a major upset by defeating reigning world champion Luke Humphries 5–3 in the group stage.[5] This performance, combined with consistent Pro Tour showings, boosted Rodriguez's 2024 earnings to over £22,500 from ranking events, contributing to a two-year Order of Merit total of £77,750. Despite the progress, he finished outside the top 64 on the Order of Merit at the end of 2024, resulting in the loss of his Tour Card.2025: Q-School attempt and WDF events
Rodriguez entered the 2025 PDC European Q-School Final Stage in January, aiming to regain his Tour Card after losing it at the end of the previous season. He advanced through the early stages but was eliminated in the fourth round, losing 3–6 to Gerko Tibbe with an average of 84.61. This performance earned him one point on the Q-School Order of Merit, placing him 60th overall, but he ultimately failed to secure a Tour Card.[38][39] In February, Rodriguez competed at the Slovak Masters, a WDF ranked event, where he reached the quarter-finals before an early exit. He was defeated 3–4 by Benjamin Pratnemer, who averaged 95.36 in the match. In May 2025, Rodriguez reached the last 32 of PDC Challenge Tour Event 11, earning £200.[1] Later that year, in April, Rodriguez qualified for the PDC European Tour's Austrian Darts Open as a host nation representative. However, he suffered a first-round defeat, losing 2–6 to Matthew Dennant.[40][41][42] Rodriguez shifted focus to WDF competitions amid his PDC challenges, participating in the WDF World Cup Singles in September. Representing Austria following their runner-up finish at the 2024 PDC World Cup of Darts, he advanced past the last 128 with a 4–2 win over Juan Carlos Munoz but exited in the last 64, averaging 82.53. In October 2025, at the Hungarian Masters, a WDF ranked event, Rodriguez reached the last 64.[1] In November, he advanced to the final round of the WDF World Championship Qualifiers for the Lakeside event, defeating Callum Francis 5–2 in the last 16, before losing 3–6 to Romeo Grbavac.[43][44][45][46] As of November 2025, Rodriguez held the 177th position on the PDC Order of Merit with £1,250 in prize money, primarily from his Austrian Darts Open appearance. With limited PDC opportunities, he has concentrated on WDF ranked events to build points and mount a potential comeback.[47]Personal life
Family and heritage
Rowby-John Rodriguez shares a close bond with his three brothers—older brother Roxy-James, younger brothers Rusty-Jake and Ridgy-Jorg—all of whom are involved in darts, fostering a family dynamic centered around the sport. His older brother, Roxy-James, is regarded by Rodriguez as the strongest player in the family, while his younger brother, Rusty-Jake, continues to compete professionally. The siblings occasionally engage in joint training sessions or casual games when their schedules align, though regular practice is limited due to Rodriguez's independent living arrangements and professional commitments.[9] Rodriguez's Filipino heritage stems from his parents, who immigrated from the Philippines to Vienna around 1989, where he and his siblings were all born and raised. His father introduced the family to darts and was a skilled player himself before stepping back to support his children's pursuits, highlighting the paternal role in nurturing their shared passion for the game.[9] While his mother does not play, the family's encouragement has been instrumental in sustaining Rodriguez's career amid its demands.[9] Rodriguez has a daughter, Alicia, born around 2019, who was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and underwent a heart transplant in 2022 following a serious health crisis.[48]Residence and interests
Rowby-John Rodriguez resides in Vienna, Austria, where he was born and raised alongside his family.[9] As of 2014, Rodriguez was training as a dental assistant, a physically demanding role that occasionally limited his training time and contributed to ongoing back issues, which he manages with regular medical massages.[9] He is sponsored by Shot Darts, for whom he has a signature range of darts.[2] His walk-on music, "Vamos a la playa" by Righeira, adds an upbeat, energetic flair to his tournament entrances.[43]Achievements
World Championship results
Rodriguez made his debut at the PDC World Darts Championship in the 2015 tournament, entering as a 20-year-old via the Pro Tour and facing four-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld in the first round, where he was defeated 0–3 despite showing promise with a 170 checkout.[22] His early impact highlighted his potential as a young European talent, though he struggled to advance beyond the opening stages in subsequent appearances. Over the years, Rodriguez has qualified for seven main draw editions, consistently exiting in the first or second round, with no progression to the third round; he failed to qualify for the 2018, 2021, and 2024 tournaments due to insufficient Order of Merit ranking or Tour Card status.[49] In 2025, Rodriguez participated in the qualifying rounds but was eliminated prior to the main draw, marking another year without an appearance at Alexandra Palace.[50] The following table summarizes Rodriguez's PDC World Darts Championship results:| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1st | Raymond van Barneveld (Netherlands) | 0–3 |
| 2016 | 1st | Dave Chisnall (England) | 0–3 |
| 2017 | 1st | Dave Chisnall (England) | 2–3 |
| 2019 | 2nd | Cristo Reyes (Spain) | 2–3 |
| 2020 | 1st | Noel Malicdem (Philippines) | 0–3 |
| 2022 | 2nd | Gary Anderson (Scotland) | 0–3 |
| 2023 | 1st | Lourence Ilagan (Philippines) | 2–3 |
Major finals
Rodriguez has reached two finals in PDC major events, both resulting in runner-up finishes in the PDC World Cup of Darts partnering with compatriot Mensur Suljović.[54][36] He also reached the final of the 2022 European Darts Matchplay, an European Tour event.[55] In July 2022, Rodriguez advanced to the final of the European Darts Matchplay in Trier, Germany, where he faced Luke Humphries in a closely contested match. Rodriguez led at several points but ultimately lost 7-8 after missing a match dart in the deciding leg, denying him his first PDC European Tour title.[55] Rodriguez's most notable major achievements have come in the PDC World Cup of Darts, partnering with Suljović to represent Austria. Their strong collaboration led to runner-up finishes in both 2021 and 2024, showcasing Rodriguez's prowess in doubles and singles formats within the team event. In 2021, Austria reached the final in Jena, Germany, but fell 1-3 to Scotland's Peter Wright and John Henderson, with Suljović winning the opening singles but Austria dropping the subsequent matches.[36][56] Three years later, in 2024, the Austrian duo again made the final in Frankfurt, Germany, this time losing 6-10 to England's Luke Humphries and Michael Smith in a higher-stakes race-to-10 format, after a gritty performance that included competitive singles legs.[54][57] Despite these strong showings, Rodriguez has yet to secure a win in a PDC major final, though his consistent performances alongside Suljović have elevated Austria's standing in international team darts.[56][58]| Year | Event | Partner/Opponent | Result | Prize Money (per player) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | PDC World Cup of Darts | Mensur Suljović (Austria) vs. Scotland | Runner-up (1–3) | £20,000[36] |
| 2024 | PDC World Cup of Darts | Mensur Suljović (Austria) vs. England | Runner-up (6–10) | £25,000[54] |
Performance timeline
Rodriguez's results in PDC Pro Tour events, including Players Championships and European Tour, are summarized below. The tables use standard PDC result codes: DNQ (did not qualify), L64 (last 64), L32 (last 32), L16 (last 16), QF (quarter-final), SF (semi-final), F (runner-up), W (winner).PDC Pro Tour Timeline
The following table summarizes Rodriguez's best finishes in PDC Pro Tour events (Players Championships and other non-European Tour Pro Tour events) by year. During years without a Tour Card (2018–2021, 2025), he participated in qualifiers or Challenge Tour events, denoted as DNQ for main Pro Tour.| Year | Best Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | L16 | Multiple L32 appearances in Players Championships. |
| 2015 | SF | SF in Players Championship 17. |
| 2016 | L16 | Several L32 and L16 runs in Players Championships. |
| 2017 | QF | QF in Players Championship 19. |
| 2018 | DNQ | Lost Tour Card; Q-School participant. |
| 2019 | DNQ | Q-School participant. |
| 2020 | DNQ | Q-School participant; COVID-affected season. |
| 2021 | DNQ | No Tour Card; won multiple Challenge Tour events. |
| 2022 | L16 | Multiple L16 finishes in Players Championships following Tour Card regain. |
| 2023 | L16 | Consistent L32 and L16 appearances. |
| 2024 | L32 | Limited deep runs. |
| 2025 | DNQ | Failed to regain Tour Card at Q-School; competed in Challenge Tour and WDF events. |
European Tour Results
Rodriguez's best finishes in European Tour events are listed below, with notable achievements highlighted.| Year | Best Finish | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | L64 | Multiple events. |
| 2015 | L16 | Multiple events. |
| 2016 | L32 | Limited appearances. |
| 2017 | L16 | German Darts Championship. |
| 2018–2021 | DNQ | No Tour Card. |
| 2022 | F | European Darts Matchplay (ET9). |
| 2023 | L16 | Several events. |
| 2024 | L32 | Austrian Darts Open. |
| 2025 | DNQ | No Tour Card. |
Players Championship Results
Rodriguez's notable finishes in Players Championship events, including wins and deep runs.| Year | Best Finish | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | L32 | Multiple events. |
| 2015 | SF | Players Championship 17. |
| 2016 | L16 | Players Championship 13. |
| 2017 | QF | Players Championship 19. |
| 2018–2021 | DNQ | No Tour Card. |
| 2022 | L16 | Players Championship 22 (among others). |
| 2023 | L16 | Players Championship 5. |
| 2024 | L32 | Players Championship 1. |
| 2025 | DNQ | No Tour Card. |
PDC Order of Merit Year-End Positions
Rodriguez's year-end rankings in the PDC Order of Merit reflect his prize money earnings over two years in ranking events.| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 52nd |
| 2015 | 48th |
| 2016 | 55th |
| 2017 | 64th |
| 2018 | 102nd (lost Tour Card) |
| 2019 | N/A (no Tour Card) |
| 2020 | N/A (no Tour Card) |
| 2021 | N/A (no Tour Card) |
| 2022 | 42nd |
| 2023 | 61st |
| 2024 | 89th |
| 2025 | 177th (as of November 2025) |