Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock made history by securing their first-ever World Cup of Darts title in a nail-biting final against Wales. The duo triumphed with a 10-9 victory over two-time champions Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in Frankfurt, earning a team prize of £80,000.

A Father's Pride

Tommy Gurney, Daryl's father, expressed immense pride in his son's achievement. "I can't actually put it into words, I am just as proud as anyone can be," he said. Tommy, who bought Daryl his first set of darts at age 12, recalled how his son took the game seriously at 14 and quickly showed exceptional talent.

Representing Northern Ireland

Daryl Gurney, who grew up in Londonderry, has previously won the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship. However, he described this victory as even more special. "He said it himself, this one is even better than any of the individuals he won," Tommy Gurney noted.

Friends and Community Celebrate

Brian Doran, a friend and darts partner of Josh Rock, shared his excitement. "I've been watching it the whole weekend and basically watch all of Josh's matches, he's unreal," Doran said. Julie-Ann Coll, who grew up on the same street as Gurney, described the final as "very tense" and expressed her pride in the hometown hero.

A Message to Young Aspirants

Julie-Ann Coll emphasized the importance of dedication and practice. "It shows all the young people here, if you put your mind to something, practice a lot, you can achieve anything," she said. The victory has not only brought joy to the players' families and friends but also inspired the next generation of darts enthusiasts in Northern Ireland.