“Why show up then?” - Callan Rydz targeted by sick online abuse in wake of grandad's tragic passing and emotional World Darts Championship exit

Callan Rydz has spoken out against the vile online abuse he received after his elimination at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace following his defeat to Josh Rock. The 27-year-old Englishman lost 4-1 in the third round to the Northern Irishman, but did so under particularly heavy personal circumstances. A few days before his match, Rydz received the heartbreaking news that his grandfather had passed away.

Josh Rock, reigning World Cup champion with Northern Ireland, ultimately proved a step too far for Rydz. Rock averaged a strong 98 and deservedly booked his place in the last 16 of the tournament. Yet it wasn’t the sporting outcome that drew most attention afterward, but the way Rydz was treated online.

Shortly after his previous-round win over Daryl Gurney, Rydz shared the sad news of his grandfather’s death on social media. In an emotional message he wrote: “There’s not enough words to say. RIP grandad. I’ll promise to try my best to make you and grandma proud up there. I love you.”

Despite the loss and the grieving process, Rydz decided to step up for the third round of the Worlds. For many fans a brave decision, but not everyone showed understanding.

After his exit, Rydz faced harsh and disrespectful reactions on social media. In a now-deleted Instagram Story he shared a screenshot of a user who had posted only three poo emojis under his name. Another fan rightly called out the troll for the lack of compassion, after which came the reply: “Why show up then?”

That remark struck a nerve with many darts fans. On social media, many actually stood up for Rydz and praised his resilience and professionalism. The fact that Rydz played at all was seen by many as a sign of character.

After his earlier win in the tournament, Rydz had already spoken openly about how tough things were. The Englishman is known for not hiding his emotions, and this time was no different. “I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m struggling. It’s hard when you have stuff going on back home. I came here to try and forget about it. It’s hard. I play for my family. I’ve got a job to do and thankfully I got through. I have too much stuff going on back home. I hear the crowd sing my name and I smile. But I wish I was home.”

Afterwards, Josh Rock showed real sportsmanship. The Northern Irishman reflected at length on his opponent’s situation and expressed his sympathy. “It was in the back of my mind [during the game] – I want to say sorry to Callan and his family for their loss of his grandad. I’m here to do a job, I’ve done my job, but I want to send my condolences to his family."

The situation around Callan Rydz once again shows how harsh and impersonal social media can be. Behind every player is a person with emotions, family, and grief, something often forgotten after the frustration of a lost bet or disappointing result

For many fans, Rydz was a model of resilience. Despite personal loss, he stepped onto the biggest stage in darts and at times produced excellent play. That deserves respect, not ridicule.