Reigning World Cup of Darts champions Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney survived a huge scare against Latvia in the last-16, booking their spot in the quarter-finals following an insane 144 checkout from 'Rocky' to seal an 8-7 win, keeping the title defence alive.
It was the Latvian pairing of Madars Razma and Valters Melderis who got out of the blocks quicker, taking out 70 to break the throw en route to a 4-1 lead. A five-leg spurt from the Northern Ireland pair saw them sail into a 6-4 lead. They were then stranded on 80 for the match when Latvia cleaned up 16 and forced a deciding leg. Double 12 was left for Razma as he looked set to return with Northern Ireland on 144. That's when Rock stepped up. He planted two darts into the treble 20 segment before coolly launching the third one into the double 12 bed, sending him and Gurney into a frenzy.
Rock was very much relieved after that result. "Well, from my perspective, I've got big cojones, put it that way," he said afterwards. "When they were sitting on 24 or 44, I can't remember exactly what it was, and I was left on 144 by my good partner, I had to take it out. And I've done it. I'm relieved." Gurney was also in disbelief. "As I said to Josh out there in the interview, if I went for the 19s, he would have had to switch," he recalled. "So I went for the 17s purposely because I knew that even if he hit the first treble, he could stay there. Then it's natural: treble, treble and have a go. But it takes world-class ability to do what he just did. There are only a few people on the planet who can do exactly what he did. He absolutely smashed it in. It wasn't like he snatched at any of those darts. They all went exactly where they needed to go."
Adding to that, 161 and 133 checkouts highlighted an incredible show of finishing by the pair. Gurney admitted that they were crucial with Latvia playing a great game. "That's credit to Latvia because they played amazingly. They were brilliant. Both of them. The lad doesn't have a turkey heart — he was absolutely amazing. Every time I came back behind him, he was hitting two trebles, and he was brilliant on the doubles as well." Rock was in awe of the finishing on stage, especially from their opponents. "I don't think he missed a double." In fact, Latvia missed just two doubles all contest in a hugely impressive display. Northern Ireland concluded with a 53% checkout rate.
Up next is the Netherlands duo of Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen. It is set to be an enthralling contest with the winner set to play either England or Scotland for the chance of World Cup glory in Frankfurt.
