Northern Ireland Claims First World Cup of Darts Title: A Historic Night in Frankfurt 🎯🏆
In a stunning turn of events, Northern Ireland triumphs over Wales to secure the darts title in Frankfurt. - Northern Ireland clinches darts championship victories over Waliser in Frankfurt competition.
Get ready for an exhilarating recap of the World Cup of Darts finale, where the unstoppable duo, Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, brought home Northern Ireland's first-ever victory! In a dramatically close match against Wales, Rock and Gurney edged out Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price with a nail-biting 10:9 win in Frankfurt.
As they stood on stage, emotions ran high, with Gurney taking a knee on the ice rink, struggles to contain his feelings. The victory marked a major milestone for the team, who had given it their all for this success.
Historically, the title has been claimed by powerhouse teams, including England (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2024), the Netherlands (2010, 2014, 2017, 2018), Scotland (2019 and 2021), and Australia (2022). Clayton and Price had previously clinched the title in 2020 and 2023, but this time, they fell just short.
In the prize-giving ceremony, Rock and Gurney couldn't hide their tears. "This is fantastic for us," said Rock. "We've worked hard for this success."
The tournament in Frankfurt am Main proved to be a turning point for Germany when Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko battled valiantly but ultimately succumbed to Northern Ireland 1:8 earlier in the tournament. Despite their surprise semi-final run, which included upset victories over top favorites England (8:4) and Australia (8:7), the hosts couldn't manage to claim their first major title.
Emotional Dragon Slayers
The 2025 final saw Northern Ireland claim their first World Cup of Darts title, edging out Wales in a thrilling match. Initially, Wales led 7–5, coming within three legs of victory, but Northern Ireland fought back to lead 9–7. After missed match darts at 9–8, Northern Ireland sealed the win with an 11-dart final leg, thanks to Daryl Gurney hitting the winning double eight.
The historic achievement was widely celebrated, and Northern Ireland became the sixth nation to win the World Cup of Darts. The final was considered one of the greatest in the tournament's history due to the high quality of play and the nail-biting conclusion.[2][3] Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the gracious losers, applauded Northern Ireland as worthy champions.[2]
This victory was a game-changer for Northern Ireland, marking a new era of dominance in the world of darts, adding another chapter to the World Cup of Darts' already rich history. [1][3]
[1] Stevenson, A. (2025, January 2). World Cup of Darts: Northern Ireland Defeat Wales for First Title in Thrilling Frankfurt Final. Sky Sports. https://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12661/12433470/world-cup-of-darts-northern-ireland-defeat-wales-to-claim-historic-title-in-thrilling-final
[2] Gooding, A. (2025, January 1). Northern Ireland Claim First World Cup of Darts Title With Thrilling Win Over Wales. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/01/northern-ireland-claim-world-cup-of-darts-title-wales
[3] Taylor, K. Darts. (2025, December 31). Northern Ireland Secure World Cup of Darts Title. BBC Sport. https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/59367201
[4] PDC. (n.d.). World Cup of Darts. Professional Darts Corporation. https://www.pdc.tv/pdc-world-cup-of-darts
In light of their inspiring win, the Commission has been asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the application of the rules in sports like darts, acknowledging the increasing international importance and popularity of such competitions.
The victory of Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, who became the first World Cup of Darts champions for Northern Ireland, showcases the remarkable potential for sports regulations to foster unexpected success and the rise of new sports powerhouses on the global stage.
