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• Wed Jan 1 2025

now 16.57 CET How did Callan Rydz, the world No43, withstand that pummelling from Michael van Gerwen to win the seventh set against the darts? The standard certainly didn?t drop: Rydz averaged 109 in the seventh set to Van Gerwen?s 112. Share

1m ago 16.55 CET Rydz wins the seventh set with two tops! Van Gerwen 4-3 Rydz (legs 1-3) Rydz starts with a 180 on his own throw; MvG hits one with his second visit, so Rydz belts another! He?s on 99 after nine, MvG on 84. Rydz hits single 19 and then brings the house down with two double tops. And he?ll have the darts to take us to a deciding set. This game is fast approaching Ally Pally Classic status. Share

3m ago 16.53 CET Rydz breaks!! Van Gerwen 4-2 Rydz (legs 1-2) MvG makes a really loose start to the leg, scoring 198 from his first three visits. Rydz administers only partial punishment, getting down to 250 ? but a 180 next up leaves him on 70 with MvG on 28. MvG gets down to 68. And he can stay there as well because Rydz has hit 70 last dart! That?s a stunning, nerveless response from Rydz. Share

5m ago 16.51 CET Van Gerwen 4-2 Rydz (legs 1-1) Both men start with a 180, then a one-treble visit. Rydz is hanging on and does wonderfully to hit 140 and leave 96 after nine. He can?t take it out but MvG gets nowhere near his beloved 132 finish, the one that sealed his first Premier League title, and Rydz pins D4 to stop the rot. Share

7m ago 16.50 CET Van Gerwen 4-2 Rydz (legs 1-0) Van Gerwen starts with six perfect darts for the second time. He goes round the houses after that, eventually taking the leg in 13 darts on D16. This has been a pulsating response to serious adversity. Share

8m ago 16.48 CET Van Gerwen wins the sixth set to lead 4-2! Van Gerwen 4-2 Rydz (legs 3-1) Rydz starts with a 180 against the darts. Trouble is Van Gerwen is now having a lot of two-treble visits and he leaves 36 after 12. A beautiful 171 from Rydz leaves him on tops. And he?s still there because Van Gerwen has hit D18 for a 13-darter! That was a stunning set, with both players averaging over 108. View image in fullscreen Michael van Gerwen wins the sixth set. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters Share Updated at 16.54 CET

10m ago 16.47 CET VAN GERWEN BREAKS! Van Gerwen 3-2 Rydz (legs 2-1) A huge moment in the game. Van Gerwen, who has been hanging on, will now throw for a 4-2 lead after breaking Rydz! He started with a 180 and was down to 44 after nine darts. Rydz was on 171 after 12 when Van Gerwen returned to complete an 11-darter. Share

11m ago 16.45 CET Van Gerwen 3-2 Rydz (legs 1-1) Rydz barrels in his 11th 180 (Van Gerwen has five) to set up a break opportunity from 81. He can?t take it on D13 and Van Gerwen mops up 52 with his last dart. Sheesh he needed that, as much for morale as because of the match situation. Share

13m ago 16.44 CET Van Gerwen 3-2 Rydz (legs 0-1) Rydz hits D18 for a comfortable 13-dart hold, his sixth in a row I think. He?s still the better player, whatever the scoreline says. Share

15m ago 16.42 CET Rydz still leads on legs, average, doubles and 180s. MvG is doing so well to repel him. But if Rydz maintains this level, and that?s a big if, I think he?ll win. Share

19m ago 16.38 CET Van Gerwen steals the fifth set in the madhouse! Van Gerwen 3-2 Rydz (legs 3-2) If Rydz breaks here he could run away with the game. After nine darts it?s Van Gerwen 173-142 Rydz. Van Gerwen hits only 43, then Rydz gets down to 80. This 130 may have to go ? and Van Gerwen wires double five after hitting the two trebles. Rydz hits 20, 20? and misses tops by a whisker! My days. After hitting the big five and then three, Van Gerwen nicks the set on D1 with his last dart! He is fighting tooth and nail to stay in this game; Rydz has had one dart at tops to win two of the three sets that Van Gerwen has taken. Van Gerwen averaged 104 in that set to Rydz?s 107. View image in fullscreen Michael van Gerwen takes the fifth. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA Share Updated at 16.45 CET

22m ago 16.35 CET Rydz holds in 11 darts! Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 2-2) Rydz starts with five perfect darts and leaves 32 after nine. He hits D16 for an 11-darter; both men are averaging 111 in this set. Share

23m ago 16.34 CET Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 2-1) No nine-darter, at least not yet. MvG hits his seventh treble 20 only to miss T19. He has to settle for a dominant 12-darter with Rydz way back on 208. This is wonderful. Share

24m ago 16.33 CET Van Gerwen on a nine-darter... He?s started with back-to-back 180s on his own throw. He needs 141 for his first nine-darter at the worlds since he hit 17 perfect darts against James Wade in 2012-13. Share Updated at 16.41 CET

24m ago 16.33 CET Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 1-1) Van Gerwen is hitting 180 more at the start of this set than in the first four. Even so, Rydz hits two double 18s to take out 90 and take the leg! That was magnificent, especially with MvG waiting on 68, and the same finish that Chris Dobey pulled off to beat Gerwyn Price. ?Oh you?ll get no darts player slander from me - suspect the vast majority are fascinating company,? writes Max Williams. ?The moment in the last final when Littler missed the double to go 5-2 up and suddenly realised he was human - such a heartbreakingly great moment. This is turning into a thriller as well.? Share

25m ago 16.31 CET Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 1-0) Van Gerwen, who needed that mini-break to clear his head, begins set five with four perfect darts on his own throw. Rydz hits back with another 180 on his second visit and both men are down to a finish after nine. MvG misses the big number from 81 and doesn?t get a shot at the bull. Rydz goes nowhere from 101 and Van Gerwen hits tops for an important 13-dart hold. Share

29m ago 16.27 CET The match stats after four sets Average Van Gerwen 99-101 Rydz

Double percentage Van Gerwen 33-42 Rydz

180s Van Gerwen 2-8 Rydz

Legs Van Gerwen 7-10 Rydz Share Updated at 16.27 CET

31m ago 16.25 CET Rydz wins the fourth set to level at 2-2! Rydz breaks! Van Gerwen 2-2 Rydz (legs 1-3) Rydz has a look at 136 for the set and leaves tops. Van Gerwen, on 112, just misses D16 and is punished at the first time of asking. Rydz takes the set with a terrific average of 104; he?s been the better player in this game and leads (sic) by 10 legs to 7. A shock, if it would be a shock, is well and truly on. View image in fullscreen Callan Rydz pulls level again. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters Share Updated at 16.36 CET

34m ago 16.23 CET Van Gerwen 2-1 Rydz (legs 1-2) Rydz scoring has slipped ever so slig- no it hasn?t, he?s just hit 162 to leave 140, the old Rob Cross shot. He was in a bit of trouble in the leg but that put him in charge and he went out in 13 darts. The match, as the brilliant Dan Dawson points out on Sky, has been without a break for the last six legs. Share Updated at 16.23 CET

36m ago 16.21 CET Van Gerwen 2-1 Rydz (legs 1-1) There?s a lovely pace to this game, and a lovely contrast between the two: a sublimely talented 26-year-old on the way up and a 35-year-old trying to release his dormant genius. It reminds me a little of the 2019 final, in which Michael Smith played arguably the more eye-catching darts and Van Gerwen won 7-3. I need to shut up and report what?s happening. Another Rydz 180 pressure Van Gerwen, who takes out 72 in two darts to hold. Share

37m ago 16.19 CET Van Gerwen 2-1 Rydz (legs 0-1) Rydz takes out 52 in two darts with Van Gerwen waiting on 36 for a big break. Share

39m ago 16.18 CET Van Gerwen wins the third set! Van Gerwen 2-1 Rydz (legs 3-2) A show of mental strength from Van Gerwen, who starts with 139 and 180 to take control of the deciding fifth leg. He farts around thereafter, chasing trebles on the next two visits, but he hits T20 and D4 for a 14-darter. That?s the first time in the whole match that Rydz hasn?t had a dart to win the leg. This is excellent stuff; Van Gerwen withstood a battering to take that set. View image in fullscreen Magic Mike takes the third set! Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters Share Updated at 16.23 CET

41m ago 16.16 CET Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 2-2) Almost every leg has been closely fought; in fact Rydz has had a dart to win the lot. He gets two more when Van Gerwen misses tops for the set and hits D8 to take the set to a deciding leg. This is really big, especially for Van Gerwen. Share

43m ago 16.14 CET Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 2-1) Van Gerwen leaves 112 after 12 on his own throw with Rydz on 76. He gets the T20 only to miss tops by a distance. Rydz hits single 1, almost redeems it on the bull but hits two 25s. Now MvG goes chasing round the board, missing three more doubles, but Rydz gives him another chance and he takes it. MvG?s doubles are a worry, below 30 per cent now, but he?s hanging in there. View image in fullscreen Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/AP Share Updated at 16.18 CET

45m ago 16.12 CET Van Gerwen breaks back! Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 1-1) At the moment MvG is feeding on scraps, like a 138 here against the throw. He can only bring it down to 80 ? but he returns when Rydz misses his only dart at tops. MvG does likewise after hitting only single 20s on his first two visits. Rydz dances round the board and busts his throw after missing D5 on the inside. Van Gerwen punishes him to bring the set ? and the game ? back on throw. This is tremendous stuff. Share

47m ago 16.10 CET Rydz breaks! Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 0-1) We all knew how talented Rydz was ? he has won floor tournaments and he was outstanding at the Worlds three years ago ? but he has still been a revelation at this tournament. Rydz hits back-to-back 180s to set up a stunning 111 and a 12-dart break. Right here, right now, he is battering MvG, who is averaging over 100 himself. Share

54m ago 16.03 CET Rydz wins the second set in 41 darts! Van Gerwen 1-1 Rydz (legs 0-3) Another 180 from Rydz leaves him on 44 after 12. He misses two at double, as does Van Gerwen, and Rydz returns to finish on D4. That is a glorious response from Rydz, who averaged 109.98 in the set. MvG averaged over 100 but was whitewashed. Rydz won each leg in 12, 12 and 17 darts ? and he was on a finish after 13 in that final leg. His scoring is wonderful: he leads 5-1 on 180s and 10-5 on 140+ scores. View image in fullscreen Callan Rydz wins the second set. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters Share Updated at 16.06 CET

1h ago 16.00 CET Rydz breaks! Van Gerwen 1-0 Rydz (legs 0-2) Van Gerwen is doing well to stay afloat because Rydz is bullying him on the scoring. He starts with five perfect darts against the throw and hits D13 for another 12-darter! He is playing beautifully. Share

1h ago 15.59 CET Van Gerwen 1-0 Rydz (legs 0-1) What a leg from Callan Rydz! He left 135 after nine and took it out with 25, 60 and then the bull. It?s only a hold but that?s a helluva statement of intent. For a player with his talent, a world ranking of 43 is a scandal. Share

1h ago 15.54 CET Set averages Van Gerwen 102.38

Rydz 103.93 Rydz did very little wrong, just those two set darts at tops. All five legs were won in 15 darts or fewer. Share Updated at 15.58 CET