‘I was going back to the hotel crying… it destroyed me’ – Ex-Premier League darts star opens up on nightmare period

8 hours ago 31

GLEN DURRANT has opened up on falling out of love with darts – after his unexpected Premier League triumph.

The three-time BDO champion, 54, won his first and only major PDC title in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glen Durrant of England celebrating a victory with a trophy.Glen Durrant admits his game was falling apart when he won the Premier League in 2020Getty
Glen Durrant of England at the PDC World Darts Championship.Getty
The 54-year-old failed to win a match as he defended his title in 2021[/caption]

Durrant beat Nathan Aspinall 11-8 in the Premier League Darts final at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

The evening was conducted behind-closed-doors and without any fans due to coronavirus restrictions.

Durrant told The Mirror: “It was a surreal moment.

“When I won, I turned around and the only person looking at me was a cameraman.”

Durrant returned a year later in Milton Keynes to defend his crown.

But his form completely deserted him as the competition again returned without a crowd.

He continued: “I was awful. I was going back to the hotel crying.

“I was like, ‘Jeez, I’m 51, have won everything I ever wanted to and here I am’.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

“It was during Covid and the following night I was playing Michael Van Gerwen having been slammed 6-0 by Dimi [Van den Bergh].”

Durrant continued to rack up heavy losses throughout the 2021 campaign.

He ended the year rock bottom of the table with nine losses from nine games.

Durrant continued: “Over the last 18 months of my career, I was getting beaten 6-0, 6-1, and it destroyed me.

“Similar to a golfer who gets the yips, a boxer who is punch-shy, I just lost my rhythm.”

Durrant retired in 2022 and now works as a commentator for Sky Sports, as well as coaching on the side.

Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues

Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler, 6-3
Night 7 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff – Thursday March 20
Night 8 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle – Thursday March 27
Night 9 – Uber Arena, Berlin – Thursday April 3
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29

He added: “I love it. I do a lot of preparation.

“I’m not a wordsmith so I’ve got to work hard behind the scenes.

“The journalists make it look ridiculously easy and use words more than my two syllables!”

“I work with Ryan Joyce. I’m coaching as well. Everyone wants to be Luke Littler, so I’m very busy!”

Read Entire Article