Daryl Gurney shares his honest thoughts on where his game is at while promising to do everything he can to improve.
Daryl Gurney’s career hasn’t quite gone the way many people expected it to go. Having reached as high as world No. 3 back in 2019, many expected him to kick on and dominate the sport, but despite endless talent that hasn’t quite happened.
Gurney, now ranked just within the top 30, hasn’t gotten past the quarter-final stage of any triple crown event since making the semi-finals of both the Premier League and World Matchplay in 2019.
However, with this year’s edition of the World Matchplay just on the horizon, another chance at redemption comes with it.
Daryl Gurney reflects on poor recent performance
Northern Irishman Gurney will be the first to tell you his game isn’t where he wants it to be. After his recent exit from Players Championship 13 in the first round at the hands of fellow countryman and world No. 113 Nathan Rafferty, Daryl took to his X account to share his disappointment.
“I was bitterly disappointed to lose out early yesterday, and I’ll be doing everything I can to put that right at PC14 this afternoon,” the 38-year-old shared.
Losing in the first round at a Players Championship event means you come away empty-handed, something that should be avoided at all costs for any darts player.
Gurney should be optimistic with World Matchplay to come
Despite an up-and-down few years for Gurney, there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic. He came very close in Players Championship 11 just a handful of weeks ago, losing to Scotsman Alan Soutar in the final.
There is also the World Matchplay just around the corner, for which Gurney is almost certain to qualify through his position in eighth in the ProTour Order of Merit.
As somebody with experience of going deep in these major tournaments in the past, having reached two semi-finals, it would be unwise to count the Northern Irishman out.