"He loves a mind game, doesn't he?" - Callan Rydz brushes off Peter Wright calling him PDC World Darts Championship favourite
PDC
Callan Rydz has been the surprise star of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. The 26-year-old Englishman, who started the tournament as number 43 in the world, is in the quarter-finals having posted the two highest averages of the tournament so far. This afternoon, Rydz will take on Michael van Gerwen.
Rydz, who was too strong for Robert Owen in the previous round 4-3, has achieved a 105-plus average in two of his four matches at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. It's fair to say, that the Englishman has impressed many fans with his performances, but also he fellow pros have been speaking out in praise, most notably Peter Wright.
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"I want to play like Callan Rydz," said 'Snakebite' in recent comments to the media, praising he young rivals performance at the Ally Pally over the last few weeks. "He's just going up there enjoying himself and playing fantastic darts. He should be favourite for this tournament. He's playing superb darts and long may it carry on."
It seems though, that Rydz is not taking too much from Wright's comments, especially given the two-time world champion's penchant for outspoken comments in the press in an attempt to gain a mental advantage. "He loves a mind game, doesn't he?" Rydz replied in his own post-match press conference after the last 16 victory over Robert Owen. "But listen, Peter, fair play to him for last night (victory over Luke Humphries ed.). I watched the game and absolutely fair play to him, after the year he's had. I've had a bad two years and this tournament has been a breath of fresh air for me. He's a lovely lad, Peter, I've got a lot of time for him.
"They were nice words but I'm not thinking about that. You've got to take it one game at a time," Rydz concludes, previewing his upcoming quarter-final. "I'll be up for it. I'll be back on the practice board and that's the main thing."
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- That's true, Richie. Taylor used to call it, "Manley's millions."MrYnyslas197103-01-2025
- The semi finals are so one sided nowadays. Bunting and Dobey had their final in the quarters and simply had no interest once they got behind and gave up., yet both will be whining for premier league places. Earning enough to keep the rankings is more important to most players. Peter Manley got to a final with Phil Taylor but was more happy that he had earned enough to pay off his mortgage and promptly and expectedly whitewashed by Philrichieburnettrocks03-01-2025
- Wessel Nijman nickname should be Ni I Manmedinabello03-01-2025
- Jealously.....a nothing happening player who has won nothing and only redeeming feature is his ever increasing bald spot. He'll be crying he deserves a premier league place next. Class A Tw4trichieburnettrocks31-12-2024
- Woodhouse is 36 but looks half that Bunting is 39 ? and looks twice thatrichieburnettrocks31-12-2024
- Rydz looks like he has tried to gaffer tape a birds nest to the top of his head. What the hell !richieburnettrocks31-12-2024
- Missed that as was working. Damon must be absolutely gutted. Will be interesting to see Premier League players.ListerAnderson28-12-2024
- What a top class match that was, gutted for Cullen. Great to see them both play so well. One of the matches of the year.ListerAnderson28-12-2024
- He is a legend and a very good set player, was great to see him play well.ListerAnderson28-12-2024
- And this should be the end of it. He was playing like a w****r and gestured as such. End of.Mysstree25-12-2024