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'I thought I was finished' - Daryl Gurney overcome with emotion after he and Josh Rock secure 2025 World Cup of Darts title for Northern Ireland

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 11:03 AM ET

For the first time in their history, Northern Ireland won the World Cup of Darts on Sunday night. Just moments after taking the title, both Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney spoke to Dartsnews.com.

Understandably, both Rock and Gurney were slightly overcome with emotion in the aftermath of their dramatic 10-9 win over the Welsh pair of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton. "The emotions are absolutely through the air. Playing alongside this man… I think they made the perfect pairs because I was doing all the scoring and he done all the finishing. I think that’s a perfect pair," Rock assessed, having been paired with Gurney for the first time in 2025.

Although Rock was the team captain and is the higher ranked of the pair, it's Gurney who has the experience of winning major titles. 'SuperChin' lifted the World Grand Prix title back in 2017 and the Players Championship Finals in 2018. Now, he can add a 3rd major title to his list of accolades.

"This is better. And I said it yesterday – if we could win this, better than any individual competition I've won," he beams with pride. "You're depending on him, he's depending on me. Honestly, I thought I blew it when I missed three darts at double five. If you gave me six darts, I wouldn't hit that. But you give me three at double eight, I wasn’t going to miss it. I’ve been practising sliding over and just sliding it in. As soon as it left my hand, I knew it was in."

"I’m a very proud Northern Irish man today. So pleased to play with Josh," adds a visibly emotional Gurney. "We said we could do damage. We done damage. We came. We won. We conquered. Thing is, we could say 'That’s us now,' but there’s so many stars on England, Wales, Holland shirts – we’re not finished yet. I thought I was finished. Josh gave me the belief."

Whilst all the hype pre tournament was about the superstar English pairing of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, in the final it was two proper teams battling it out. In their own post-match press conference, Price and Clayton stressed how team spirit is more important than individual brilliance at the World Cup and that seems to be something Rock and Gurney agree on.

"The way Johnny and Gezzy click is unbelievable. The way me and him click is unbelievable. We just kept fighting," said Rock, with Gurney adding: "We went up first break 3-2, then 5-5, 7-5 down, kept believing. At 9-7 up, I thought we had it. They come back to 9-9, but that 11-darter in the last leg… pairs isn’t easy. I'm so proud."

And as seen by Clayton himself in the past, a World Cup of Darts win can easily be the springboard for some major individual glory. Is the time now right for Josh Rock to finally fulfill his potential on the biggest PDC stages? "I'm hoping so," he smiles. "I believe it will happen – when the time’s right. The PDC level’s going through the roof, but I do believe in myself."

"I am an old man – 39. Josh is 24," Gurney adds. "I thought I was done competing with the younger standard. I can compete against the best, but doing it every game is another thing. But practice is going well. I changed darts. Gave myself more belief. Still fighting.

"I’ve only won two majors – this is above them. Josh says his back’s sore – I don’t know how much we’ve won, but he’s going to lose half on surgery," Gurney laughed. "When you win solo, you only depend on yourself. But here, I didn’t want to let him down. He didn’t let me down. That’s what makes this competition so special."

Finally, both Rock and Gurney paid tribute to Brendan Dolan, who has been leading figure in the World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland over the years.

"He’s been here since day one. When we walk into Leicester on Tuesday, he’ll be the first to give us a big hug and say, 'Yous are some boys,'" Rock laughs. "Brendan has been so supportive. He’s a beacon of light, a true gentleman. One of the nicest people on the planet."

"Last year, Brendan and Josh were playing, I wished them all the best, texted every day. Thursday, he texted us both. I said, 'Can I do the helicopter?' and he said, “I can do it.” But I said, 'No Brendan, it’s yours – don’t want to get you angry,'" Gurney added. "We’re proud to call him a friend."