"He's not wrong but it gave me the fire in the belly": Callan Rydz on Dimitri van den Bergh's 'unstable' mind games quip backfiring

Callan Rydz produced one of the best wins again all tournament as he saw off Dimitri van den Bergh 4-0 with a 105 average to reach the Last 16 of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship.

Rydz spoke afterwards about the unstable quip from the UK Open champion and how his average dips. He said that while he isn't wrong jokingly, he said it gave him the motivation.

As well as saying that he sees similar to him on the floor when he doesn't produce what he does on the stage.

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"Of course I'm happy, I'm over the moon," said Rydz post match.

He also joked that he knew he was averaging what he was. "Yes of course I did I looked at the screen and that's when I went oh no. It's like I've said I'm more than happy to win the game 4-0 but I averaged 105 in the end, I'd average 71 I don't care.

"I knew Dimi was going to try to slow the game down. Obviously he tries to keep himself focused. But I knew I was coming but I didn't let him have the breathing space to settle down properly. I'm really grateful to be through."

But he won't start to dream albeit of course the Geordie semi-final or final is on his mind. "Absolutely not. I've not won anything compared to some of them left in. I've won three ProTours, two Development Tours. You can't compare me to Van Gerwen, Dobey as much as I hate to say it. I love Dobey, Ryan Joyce. If I meet Dobey in the semi's or Joycey in the final, it will be fantastic for Newcastle."

Rydz runs riot again on the Ally Pally stage.

Then he addressed the unstable comments as well as the potential of redemption if he gets to the latter stages after reaching the Quarter-Finals in 2022.

"He said I was unstable. I didn't get what that was, unstable going from 107 to 91. If that's the case, on the floor he can average 110 to 85 because we've seen it. I didn't get it but that was probably the fire in the belly I probably needed."

"One of my best friends said have you seen Dimi's interview he called you unstable I went he's not wrong but I think that was the fire in the belly I needed."

"If my head is in the right spot I know I can do damage and the last three games I've done damage so just hope for the good news to keep coming back from home and I'll stay a happy man."

"If I make the quarters again, it'll be a chance of redemption. I should have won that Quarter-Final. I'm not saying I would've won the event but I would've fancied myself for the final. It didn't happen and I had a poor two years."

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