World Darts Championships: The Bedlington stars Chris Dobey and Callan Rydz representing the North East

New Year’s Day sees the quarter-final of the World Darts Championships take place, and 2025 kicks off with a North East takeover.

Both Chris Dobey, currently ranked 15 in the world, and Callan Rydz, ranked 43rd, hail from Bedlington in Northumberland, meaning that of the remaining eight players, 25% are from the North East. The Championship has seen many shocks and surprises this year, with world number two Michael Smith going out in the second round, and defending champion Luke Humphries bowing out in the fourth round to Peter Wright.

But perhaps another surprise is the form of Callan Rydz. The 26-year-old had a tough couple of months before the start of the Championships, with perhaps the biggest example being his loss to Florian Hempel in the Hungarian Darts Trophy.

‘The Riot’ lost 6-5 to the German after being 5-2 up, and punched his darts case as he walked off. But in this year’s World Championships, he has been the standout player.

He has only dropped three sets on his way to the quarter-finals, beating Welshman Robert Owen 4-3 in the fourth round. He boasts the highest one-match average of the tournament so far, 107.06 in his match against Croatian Romeo Grbavac, and also posted the second-highest highest average of the tournament (99.43), only behind Luke Littler.

Callan Rydz faces three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen
(Image: PDC)

He has also hit the second-highest number of 180s, which is brilliant for a different reason. Paddy Power, which sponsors the World Championships, announced they will donate £1,000 for every 180 hit to Prostate Cancer UK.

The initiative started last year, called The Big 180, which raised over £1 million for Prostate Cancer UK. This year, the initiative returned, called The BIGGER 180. On top £1,000 donated to charity for every 180 hit, there is a £180,000 bonus for every nine-darter hit. £60,000 to Prostate Cancer UK, £60,000 to the player and £60,000 to a fan. Currently, £887,000 has been raised by Paddy Power through two nine-darters being hit and a total of 767 maximums.

Chris Dobey has also contributed to that total, and is the other half of the Bedlington duo in the quarter-finals of the tournament tomorrow. ‘Hollywood’ reached the last eight after a gruelling victory over Dutchman Kevin Doets, grinding out a 4-3 set victory.

He also reached the last eight in the 2024 World Championships, but was on the wrong end of arguably the greatest comeback in the tournament’s history. The 34-year-old was leading fellow Englishman Rob Cross 4-0 in sets, and looked on course to reach the semi-finals for the first time in his career. However, Cross reeled off five straight sets to book his place and send Dobey packing.

Chris Dobey faces Welshman Gerwyn Price
(Image: PDC)

Ryan Joyce, who hails from Newcastle, almost reached the final eight after pushing Luke Littler all the way. He lost 4-3 to the tournament favourite in a pulsating contest. Across his games, Joyce also hit 18 180s, contributing £18,000 to Paddy Power’s The BIGGER 180 pledge.

Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive Laura Kerby said: “We have been blown away at the brilliance from the world’s best darts players at Ally Pally, and this iconic tournament has helped us make a huge difference to men affected by prostate cancer, one maximum at a time. With every 180 hit by players in the tournament, Prostate Cancer UK earns £1,000 from Paddy Power, not to mention two nine-dart bonuses that have netted a further £120,000.

“The tournament has been compelling viewing and Chris and Callan are very much in the mix – and both have contributed massively, raising £50,000 between them. We’re hugely grateful for their efforts to date, and also to Ryan Joyce, who not only pushed Luke Littler all the way, but who also raised £18,000.

“Funds raised will support our ground-breaking screening trial, TRANSFORM. Led by world-leading experts, TRANSFORM will find the best way to screen men for the disease – so that one day all men will be invited for regular tests and more men will find it early enough to be cured.

“Good luck to Chris and Callan for the rest of the tournament and long may the iconic call of ‘180’ from the Ally Pally stage continue.”

Chris Dobey kicks off the quarter-finals tomorrow afternoon against Gerwyn Price, while Callan Rydz faces three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen.

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Image Credits and Reference: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/chris-dobey-callan-rydz-bedlington-30687875