Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock break down in tears as Northern Ireland win World Cup of Darts in final leg decider
WAILS OF JOY Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock break down in tears as Northern Ireland win World Cup of Darts in final leg decider
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
JOSH ROCK burst into tears on stage after Northern Ireland won a dramatic World Cup last leg decider.
His team partner Daryl Gurney hit double eight to wrap up an epic 10-9 win over Wales pair Gerwyn price and Jonny Clayton in Sunday nights final in Frankfurt.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Northern Ireland duo Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock let it all out after victory
Rock, 24, and Gurney then dropped to their knees on stage in scenes of incredible emotion as they picked up their first world titles and an £80,000 jackpot.
He said: 'When we said we are paired together we'll win it. We didn't expect to do it, but we did it.
'As a team we were fantastic. We fought hard all the way through.'
Gurney added: 'Firstly congratulations to Wales. They showed their class. Jonny and Gezzy, absolute legends of the game.
'Josh had the power-scoring and I just had to clean up the finishing.
'I hope I don't get a fine for this but every time I went for double five a wee bit of poo fell out!
'I was never going to miss double eight. I have never been so proud of this man and myself.'
Northern Ireland made a storming start and Wales were lucky to only be trailing 3-2 at the first break. Jonny Clayton then hit a wonderful 142 to draw it level.
But Rock was in inspired form, hitting 180s for fun, breaking the tournament record of 20.
However, Price hit tops to break throw and Wales still hadn't missed a dart at a double. Then Rock delivered a cool tops to live the game again at the second break at 5-5.
Yet again Clayton nailed the double at first attempt and then a double six put them in command at 7-5. But a double 18 and double eight from Gurney put the Irish back in front.
Gurney then delivered a cool double 14 and now they were just one leg from glory. But they missed four title darts and Clayton hit double 16 and it went down to a decider.
Rock then hit a crucial 171 and Gurney finished it with double eight.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
21 minutes ago
- Metro
Price lifts lid on Littler and Humphries' World Cup of Darts nightmare
Gerwyn Price reckons England's shock World Cup of Darts demise was down to Luke Littler and Luke Humphries not having the same team ethic as other countries in the event. Northern Ireland were crowned World Cup winners for the first time on Sunday night, beating Wales 10-9 in an epic final in Frankfurt. Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock got the better of Price and Jonny Clayton in a final which most expected to feature the English team of Humphries and Littler. However, the top two players in the world rankings were downed by Germany in their first game, beaten 8-4 by the home nation in a big shock in the last 16. Price was asked about the need for friendship and a connection between the pair to achieve success in the World Cup of Darts and he suggested this is where the English dream team went wrong. 'I think you need a connection, I think you need to have that camaraderie off the stage and have that connection,' the Iceman said after defeat in the final. 'When we all turned up…and I'm not just saying this because they lost…the only two players who didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team…I'm not saying who they are, but they didn't win their first game. 'You need it. You need to turn up as a team, practice together, sit together, it's a team ethic and it didn't show with England and it showed on the board. 'They're great players individually, but you need to be a team. You need that team ethic, you need to be together as a team all the way though, but it didn't happen. 'I wanted them to do well but they didn't. I'm not just saying that, I wanted them to do well but they were rubbish.' The Northern Irish pair downed England's conquerors in the semi-finals, thrashing the Germans 8-1 before their brilliant tussle with the Welsh in the final. In a deciding leg of stunning quality Gurney landed a 180 before Rock hit a 171 to leave just 16, which Gurney nailed to wrap it up in just 11 darts. The 39-year-old has won major titles before, but not since the 2018 Players Championship Finals and he admitted that he felt his trophy-lifting days were over. 'This is better. I said in my interview yesterday, if we could win this it would be better than any individual competition I've won,' he said. 'I'm a very proud Northern Irishman today. So pleased to play with Josh. We said we could do damage, we've done damage. We came, we won, we conquered. 'We're not finished yet. I believed I was finished, that's why I'm so emotional because I thought I was probably done as a PDC winner but Josh gave me the belief.' More Trending 24-year-old Rock turned in a sublime performance over the piece in Germany, with PremiumDartsData revealing his tournament average to be 102.42. 'That was probably the best World Cup final there's ever been,' he said. 'That was just phenomenal.' Rock is still searching for his own first major TV title, but reckons this could be the springboard to launch him to individual glory. 'I'm hoping so,; he said. 'I believe in myself that it will happen.' MORE: World Cup of Darts 2025 schedule, TV channel, teams, fixtures and odds MORE: Phil Taylor 'advice' helps Luke Humphries beat Luke Littler to Premier League Darts title MORE: Premier League Darts final 2025: Prize money, start time, format and schedule
Daily Mirror
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Sergio Aguero aims Cristiano Ronaldo dig at Lionel Messi's Club World Cup clash
Cristiano Ronaldo is not playing at the Club World Cup after Al-Nassr failed to qualify for the event and Sergio Aguero poked fun at him during an appearance on IShowSpeed's livestream Sergio Aguero has mocked Cristiano Ronaldo over his recent Nations League win and for not featuring at the Club World Cup. FIFA's new-look competition kicked off this weekend, with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami drawing 0-0 with Egyptian club Al-Ahly. Aguero was among those in attendance for the game where he met American streamer IShowSpeed, who is a Ronaldo superfan. And in an appearance on his livestream, Aguero poked fun at Ronaldo. "You're a very big fan of Cristiano, no?" he asked Speed, who replied that he was but admitted he also wanted to meet Messi. "I respect it, it's OK," Aguero responded. "He's a good player. I prefer Messi, of course." The Manchester City legend then joked about Ronaldo's Club World Cup absence, adding: "Ronaldo is playing here now at the Club World Cup or no? Maybe he'll have to watch on TV." In response, Speed said: "He's just not playing at the Club World Cup, he's going to play at the World Cup though. And he's going to win the World Cup." Aguero then sarcastically replied: "He just won the [Euros] no? Ah the Nations League... congratulations." FIFA president Gianni Infantino had teased that Ronaldo could still play at the Club World Cup despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify. Speaking to Speed last month, Infantino claimed: "Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup. "There are discussions. Yeah, Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup, yeah. There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup…who knows, who knows." However, Ronaldo ultimately rejected approaches from clubs to feature at the event, stating: "I will not be at the Club World Cup. Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can't try and do everything. You can't catch every ball." Ronaldo is out of contract with Al-Nassr at the end of the month, but he is expected to sign an extension and remain in Saudi Arabia. Speaking after Portugal's Nations League victory, he said: "Future? Nothing will change. Al-Nassr? Yes." Al-Nassr's sporting director Fernando Hierro offered an update on his future last month, stating: "Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr runs until June 30. We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him. "We are negotiating with Cristiano Ronaldo to renew his contract. God willing, we will find a solution."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Tribe 'happy' after impressive Glamorgan innings
Glamorgan's Jersey batter Asa Tribe says he is "feeling good" after leading his side to victory over 21-year-old hit 63 not out including smashing 41 runs in the final two overs to set up a 40-run win at hit seven sixes in his 28-ball innings in what was his best ever score for Glamorgan."I'm feeling good about my cricket at the moment," said Tribe, whose score was his second best T20 total after a 73 not out he scored for Jersey against the United States in July game was just his seventh appearance for Glamorgan in T20 who made his international debut as a 17-year-old, moved to the club in October 2023 and has also made eight first class appearances for the Welsh side since his debut in September 2024."The boys set the game up nicely for me to come in and do what I did today," he added to BBC Wales."I've only had a few games for Glam so far but I'm happy with how I played today."
