‘My head’s all over the place’ – Callan Rydz breaks down in tears on stage over relative after edging Ally Pally thriller

Callan Rydz gave an emotional on stage interview immediately after reaching the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship.

The two-time quarter-finalist came through a five-set epic to beat Daryl Gurney at Alexandra Palace.

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Rydz booked his place in the last 32 by clinching the deciding set 5-3 against his Northern Irish opponent.

The Riot took out a pair of 167 checkouts in an electrifying clash on the final day of action before Christmas.

Rydz was visibly emotional after the match as he held back tears whilst speaking to Sky Sports.

The world no.42 revealed Gurney had been in contact with him in the build-up to the match to check in on his family.

Speaking on stage, Rydz explained: “Daryl has been one of the only lads who knows what has been going on back home with my grandad.

“He has been messaging me, asking if I’m okay. I am getting emotional thinking about it. I don’t know what to say.

“My head is all over the place but Ally Pally is the best place to play.”

The pair had earlier shared a touching embrace after Rydz’s winning dart sealed his victory.

Asked how it felt on stage during the match, he told talkSPORT: “It was great.

“I get on with Daryl really well, it’s hard playing your friends but at the same time you’ve got a job to do.

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“Daryl would have said the same if he was sat here now. So, I’m just grateful I (get to) come back after Christmas.”

Rydz has previously explained the role his family have played in his darts career, hailing his grandad as his ‘inspiration’.

In a Newcastle United programme interview in 2022, Rydz revealed: “I would have been four or five when I first picked up a set of darts.

“My full family played – my Grandma, my Grandad, my Mam – and everyone in my family had something to do with darts.

“I remember watching the Worlds at the Lakeside every January when I was little. I’d have a board on the couch and throw darts at it.”

Rydz is now into the third round for the third time in his career, having reached the last eight on the two previous occasions.

The first of those occasions came in 2020 before he repeated the trick last year.

However, his run 12 months ago came to an end at the hands of eventual runner-up Michael van Gerwen.

Rydz could meet the three-time world champion once again if he reaches that stage again.

His next clash will come after the Christmas break, with a third round showdown against either Josh Rock or Joe Comito.

The pair will meet in their second round tie at Ally Pally during Tuesday’s evening session.