DURRANT: “I WAS AWFUL”

By Aaron Nijjar  

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

‘Duzza’ won his first and only major PDC title in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The three-time BDO champion 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 a crowd 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 capitulated as the competition again returned without fans. 

He added: “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’. 

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

Former World championship quarter-finalist Durrant continued to rack up heavy losses throughout the 2021 campaign. 

He ended the year 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.” 

Two-time Players Championship winner Durrant retired in 2022 and now works as a commentator for Sky Sports, as well as coaching on the side. 

He said: “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!” 

Image by Taylor Lanning.