'I was giving off to myself: 'Don’t you dare, don’t you dare get lazy now' - Daryl Gurney finally wins over fearsome opponent Callan Rydz

The audience at the Antwerp Expo was treated to a true spectacle on Friday night. Daryl Gurney and Callum Rydz played a match of unprecedented high level in the first round of the Flanders Darts Trophy.

With averages of 104.3 for Gurney and 106.5 for Rydz, respectively, the duel was "a real game of darts," according to Glen Durrant in the commentary booth. In the end, the Northern Irishman prevailed 6-3.

For Gurney, the win meant more than just a spot in the next round. The Northern Irishman had never won against Rydz until this game. "Yeah, I mean the hard thing is, Callan – I think he always beats me to be honest. I’m not sure if I’ve ever beaten him," Gurney confessed afterwards. When told that the Head-to-Head before this match was 6-0 in Rydz's favor, he was able to laugh with relief. "I’m glad we’re having this interview right now and not before," he joked.

Despite his strong start, Gurney felt the pressure when Rydz came back into the match in the closing stages. "But whatever I do sometimes when I’m playing Cal, he always just does that wee bit more than I do. He gets that extra dart at the double and he always takes it. Out of many games, he’s beaten me 6–5 – four out of six, sorry."

Rydz managed to produce two more strong legs, but Gurney held on. "So whenever I got in front, and I got that far in front, I was giving off to myself: “Don’t you dare, don’t you dare get lazy now.” And then he came back with two great legs I think, and I just hung in there. I said to myself: “Just keep doing what you’re doing, and once you get an opportunity at the double, don’t miss.”"

"I mean, the 140 was nice, and the 92 – the 92 was obviously harder for me because it was for the game and he was sitting on a double."

Gurney was originally scheduled to face Ross Smith on Saturday afternoon, but due to a withdrawal by Gerwyn Price, the duel between the Northern Irishman and the Englishman has been moved to Saturday evening. The winner of that match will advance to the last sixteen of the Flanders Darts Trophy.