*

Geordie darts star CALLAN RYDZ rubber-stamped his status as one of the brightest young talents in the sport during a wonderful run to the last eight of the PDC World Championship a couple of weeks ago. Ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Watford, Toon supporter Callan told UNITED all about his memorable fortnight at the Alexandra Palace, his aspirations for 2022 and his Magpies-themed practice room…

I had a really warm welcome waiting for me at home after I travelled back from the World Championship. Everyone was saying ‘well done’, or ‘unlucky’, but it’s one of those where you don’t really want people to be saying you were unlucky, because you want to stay there until the end.

Going into the Worlds, I never really saw myself as one to win it, to be honest. But the closer I got, the more I thought about winning. Yes, I came up short against Peter Wright – who obviously went on to win the whole thing – but that game, that quarter-final, was mine to lose. When I lost, I was an emotional wreck. It really hit me as I was walking backstage, when I realised I wasn’t the one doing the interviews this time. It hurt. But setbacks are there to make you stronger, and hopefully I’ll come back stronger next year.

The experience was the key thing for me, though. TV experience. Last year, I was in pretty much every TV tournament. I didn’t play well in some of them, but towards the end of the year my form started to come and I was averaging 100 and so on. I played my first game at the Worlds a week before Christmas. I didn’t know too much about my opponent, Yuki Yamada, but those players are the most dangerous, because you don’t see them play enough.

I then played Brendan Dolan in the Second Round, and to beat someone like Brendan 3-0 and average over 100 was brilliant. And I’d never actually got past that stage at the Worlds before. In the Third Round I beat Nathan Aspinall 4-0; I know he had an injury, and I did feel bad for him – he was crying as he walked off the stage – but it was one of those where a job has to be done. I’m friends with Nathan and Brendan and they were both very respectful and wished me luck. After that, I started to think a little bit more that it could be me, but I think I thought about it too much and now I know not to do that again.

When I went 4-3 up against Peter in the quarter-finals, I thought: ‘Three good legs here and you’re into the semi-finals.’ I’d have had to play Gary Anderson, and everyone knows how good a player Gary is, but by then you’re one game away from the final and a game that could completely change your life. I was absolutely devastated when I lost, but I can’t think about it too much anymore. I just have to move on and get on with the next tournament.

I would have been four or five when I first picked up a set of darts. My full family played – my Grandma, my Grandad, my Mam – and everyone in my family had something to do with darts. I remember watching the Worlds at the Lakeside every January when I was little. I’d have a board on the couch and throw darts at it! I’ve always loved the sport.

Growing older, I had a part-time job but I was always more focussed on my darts because I knew I had the talent, and the belief of the people around me always kept me going. My Grandad, in particular, has always been a big inspiration. I thought I’d try it for a year and really give it a proper go. At the end of it, I won my tour card and I became a professional. And I think I’ve done alright in the couple of years since! I’m grateful I’ve stuck with darts instead of doing anything else.

It doesn’t matter how natural you are (and people say that I’m one of the most natural players they’ve ever seen) – you’ve got to put the hard work in, too. You might be talented, but people will quickly find out whether you’ve been practicing or not. As a professional, you’ve also got to get used to the travelling that’s involved and being in different hotels all the time, but I’m getting there with it, and it’s the same for everyone.

On the pro tour at the moment, it’s not every single time that Peter, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton or Michael Smith end up winning – there’s always someone who has a shock run. Anybody in the world’s top 128 is good and can definitely play. Even at the Worlds, there was a lad called Raymond Smith who hadn’t played for months, and he made the last 16. The standard is very high and it’s a wide open field. This year, I’d like to make a major TV semi-final. I’ve made it to two major quarter-finals over the past six months – at the Worlds and the World Matchplay – and now I’d really like to go one better. And I’ve got my eyes set on breaking into the top 16 in the world.

Having fans back at the Alexandra Palace was absolutely amazing, too. Two years ago, when Covid first hit, we didn’t have any fans in and darts didn’t feel the same. It just wasn’t right having only five or six people on stage and automatic crowd noise being played in the background. When I had the fans singing my name at the Ally Pally it was absolutely unbelievable – I had goosebumps.

Another thing I’m aiming for this year? To go along to a Newcastle away game! I’ve never been to one before, though I grew up coming to St. James’ Park with my Grandad and I was at the Burnley League Cup game back in August.

When the takeover happened in October, it was amazing. My cousin was outside the ground that night and he was sending me videos. Now it’s one of those where we have the money to spend but we have to spend it the right way, because everyone knows how much money we’ve got now. The focus just has to be on staying in the Premier League this season, and hopefully this summer we can bring in some really big players.

The dartboard surround I’ve got has the Newcastle United badge on it, and the oche in my room has got the Tyne Bridge on and some of the squad. Now I just need a couple of framed shirts on the wall to finish the room off!