RYDZ FIGHTS BACK TEARS OVER GRANDAD AFTER ALLY PALLY THRILLER

CALLAN RYDZ admitted worries over his grandad left him fighting back tears after edging out Daryl Gurney in a World Championship thriller.

World No.43 Rydz survived a dramatic deciding set to beat Gurney 3–2 at Ally Pally and move into the third round.

‘The Riot’ was visibly emotional as he revealed the personal battle he is dealing with away from the oche.

Rydz also revealed the vital support he has received from Gurney during a difficult time.

He said: “Daryl is one of the only lads back home that knows what has been going on with my Grandad.

“Every other day he has been messaging me asking if he is okay — I’m getting emotional thinking about it.

“I don’t know what to say. The crowd was brilliant. It’s the best time to play well but listen, my head is all over the place at the minute. I don’t know what to say.”

Gurney had 66 left to level the first set but looked visibly distracted by noises around the arena as he paused, glanced to his left and stepped back from the oche.

‘Superchin’ then returned to the line and missed double 18 with his final dart, allowing Rydz to capitalise and take the leg.

But the two-time major winner responded in emphatic fashion, producing a blistering second set average of 109.98 to level the contest at 1–1 in London.

The Northern Irish thrower then powered in a clinical 139 checkout to take the third set and edge 2–1 in front.

Rydz refused to go away, levelling the match by landing his SECOND 167 finish before rattling off the next two legs to force a deciding set.

In a tense finale, Rydz held his nerve when it mattered most, clinching the final set 5–3 in a sudden-death classic to seal a dramatic victory.

Image by Taylor Lanning.