World Cup of Darts: Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney encourage Northern Eire to glory over Wales

Northern Eire claimed a historic victory on the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts, defeating Wales 10-9 in a dramatic closing in Frankfurt on Sunday.

Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney – the event’s fourth seeds – broke down in tears after holding their nerve to make historical past with a 10-9 defeat of Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Worth.

Having trailed 7-5, the triumphant pair hit again to steer 9-7, solely to overlook 4 match darts for the title at 9-8, permitting Clayton and Worth – champions in 2020 and 2023 – to power a decider.

The deciding leg noticed Rock and Gurney throw an 11-dart leg to fend off the problem of Wales to grow to be the sixth nation to say World Cup glory.

“We’ve made history for Northern Ireland and we’re so proud as a team,” stated an emotional Rock.

“As a team we were fantastic and we fought hard all the way through.”

Gurney added: “I wish to congratulate Wales, it exhibits the category of the Welsh crew to remain on stage and congratulate us.

“Jonny and Gezzy are legends of the game, I think they’ll go on and win big titles this year.

“Josh’s energy scoring was wonderful and I used to be there to scrub up the ending; I used to be by no means going to overlook the double eight to win the title.

“I’m so proud of Josh and myself, I put higher regard on this title than any individual events I’ve won.”

Northern Eire led 3-1 however then misplaced six of the subsequent eight legs earlier than regaining management of a charming contest courtesy of a devastating mixture of Rock’s scoring energy and Gurney’s ending.

Following the 4 missed darts for glory within the penultimate leg, Wales got a glimmer of hope, just for Gurney to lastly nail double eight to safe the trophy.

They started the day with an 8-5 win over Republic of Eire within the quarter-finals earlier than thrashing host nation Germany 8-1 within the semi-finals.

In the meantime, Wales defeated Hong Kong 8-4 within the quarter-finals earlier than overcoming Netherlands 8-5 within the semi-finals.

“We gave it our all but congratulations to those two [Rock and Gurney],” stated Clayton. “To be fair to Josh and Daryl they flew out the blocks in the last leg.

“Gezzy is a category act, I am a proud man to have a teammate like him.”

Worth added: “We started off really slow, trying to get in the game was really difficult. Testament to the Northern Irish team, Josh’s scoring was unbelievable and we couldn’t keep up with them.

“At 9-9 we gave ourselves an opportunity however they had been a bit higher than us they usually deserve it.”

Mardle: Document-breaker Rock has lastly arrived

Rock completed with a 110 particular person common and began six out of 19 legs with a 180. He hit 9 maximums to interrupt the document for many variety of 180s in a World Cup closing.

Wayne Mardle believes this could be a catalyst for the 24-year-old, saying: “There was a lot of fake news going around with Rock saying he was on the decline because of the media. He wasn’t, he was actually climbing up the rankings but for some reason that got banded around. ‘What’s happened to Josh Rock?’ Nothing, he’s just got better and better.

“Because he’s off someone’s radar, it was like he’s not good anymore. He has been getting better and better and this shows you that you can’t play like that if you don’t have the game or the belief. Belief is so important especially in this kind of format.

“We go on about how pairs wrecks rhythms, nevertheless it did not wreck his. He is obtained the sport and we all know what he can do.”

Mardle added: “There was a massively hyped game a few years ago when he played Michael van Gerwen in the Grand Slam. He hit a nine-darter as if to say ‘I’ve arrived, I’m here’. Well, he’s here now.

“We have seen Josh Rock come up right here and play one of many video games of his life within the largest recreation of his life. That is not straightforward to do. That tells you what sort of character he’s.”

What is the subsequent darts occasion on Sky Sports activities?

The spotlight of the darting summer season will see the Betfred World Matchplay held from July 19-27 on the Winter Gardens, as Luke Humphries bids to retain the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy, with world champion Luke Littler and three-time winner Michael van Gerwen additionally set to headline the £800,000 occasion throughout 9 days.

Sunday July 27 may even function the fourth staging of the Betfred Ladies’s World Matchplay, that includes eight gamers competing throughout one session – with Beau Greaves having received the 2023 and 2024 occasions.

Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be the house of the World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW