The Night Frankfurt Witnessed Pure Magic: When Two Northern Irish Lads Made History

By Lewis Barnett 15 June, 2025 5 mins read 115 Views

I've covered a lot of darts finals over the years, but Sunday night in Frankfurt? That was something else entirely.

Josh Rock literally collapsed in tears on that stage after Northern Ireland pulled off what might be the most dramatic World Cup victory I've ever witnessed. And trust me, I've seen some absolute crackers. His partner Daryl Gurney nailed double eight in the final leg decider to beat Wales 10-9, and the emotion that followed... Christ, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

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When £80K and Glory Collide

Both Rock and Gurney just dropped to their knees right there on stage. Twenty-four-year-old Rock was sobbing like a baby - the good kind of sobbing that comes when you've just achieved something you've dreamed about since you were throwing tungsten at a board in your garage.

"When we said we are paired together we'll win it. We didn't expect to do it, but we did it," Rock managed between the tears. The kid was barely coherent, bless him.

Gurney, ever the character, had me cracking up with his post-match interview: "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!" Classic Gurney. The man's got no filter and that's exactly why we love him.

Rock's Record-Breaking Rampage

Here's the thing about Rock that night - he was absolutely on fire with those 180s. Broke the tournament record with 20 maximums. Twenty! I was keeping count on my phone because it was getting ridiculous.

Northern Ireland stormed out of the gates early. Wales were hanging on by their fingernails, lucky to only trail 3-2 at the first break. Then Jonny Clayton did what Clayton does - hit a gorgeous 142 to level things up.

The Welsh Nearly Pulled It Off (And My Heart Nearly Gave Out)

God, what a match this turned into.

Price and Clayton weren't missing doubles - they were clinical as surgeons for most of the night. Price hit tops to break throw, and for a moment there I thought Wales had this wrapped up. But Rock answered back with his own tops to make it 5-5 at the second break.

The back-and-forth was mental. Clayton nailing doubles at first attempt like it was practice. Double six put Wales ahead 7-5. Then Gurney responded with double 18 and double eight to put Northern Ireland back in front.

My notes from that moment just say "CHAOS" in capital letters.

Four Darts at Glory... and They All Missed

This is where it got properly dramatic.

Gurney stepped up with a beautiful double 14, putting them one leg from glory. One leg from £80,000 and their first world titles. The crowd was going absolutely mental.

Then they missed four - FOUR - title darts. I've never seen anything like it. The pressure must have been crushing. Clayton, cool as you like, hit double 16 to force a decider.

Poor Rock looked like he might throw up.

The Moment That Made History

Final leg. Winner takes all.

Rock stepped up and threw a crucial 171. Just beautiful scoring under that kind of pressure. Left Gurney with a finish, and the man who'd been joking about bodily functions five minutes earlier suddenly looked like the most focused person on Earth.

Double eight. Clean as a whistle.

The place erupted. Rock collapsed. Gurney was shouting something I couldn't quite make out over the noise. Even Price and Clayton, devastated as they were, showed pure class in defeat.

"I was never going to miss double eight," Gurney said later. "I have never been so proud of this man and myself."

Sometimes sport gives you moments that transcend the game itself. Sunday night in Frankfurt was one of those nights. Two lads from Northern Ireland, dreaming big and delivering when it mattered most.

Magic, pure and simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the standard height for hanging a dartboard?

The standard height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) from the floor to the bullseye. This measurement is official across professional darts organizations worldwide, including the PDC and BDO. It's designed to create a fair playing field for players of different heights.

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

Statistics

The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
The dartboard wire system known as "razor wire" reduced bounce-outs by approximately 60% when introduced.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.
A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.

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How To

Taking Your Game Public

Playing at home is one thing; throwing in a crowded, noisy bar is another beast entirely. My first league night was a disaster—I couldn't focus with people walking behind me and the pressure of teammates watching. Now I wear headphones with low music between throws and have a specific pre-throw routine to center myself.

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