Glen Durrant probeert sterker terug te keren in de Unibet Premier League nadat zijn eerste week uitliep op een nachtmerrie.
De regerend Premier League kampioen had in de eerste week van de Premier League één van de zwaarste weken van zijn carrière, hij verloor zijn eerste vijf wedstrijden en vind zichzelf onderaan de ranglijst terug van de gemiddelden, finishpercentages en scorende beurten.
Durrant speelt van 19 t/m 22 april nog vier wedstrijden en heeft nog steeds de mogelijkheid om alles om te draaien en eliminatie te ontlopen om Judgement Night op donderdag.
In 2016 overleefde Robert Thornton Judgement Night terwijl hij maar één punt verzamelde in zijn eerste zes wedstrijden. Vorig jaar ging Daryl Gurney door terwijl hij drie punten achter zijn naam had na zes wedstrijden.
DURRANT: "Daryl Gurney was playing quite well [last year] - the problem I've got is I'm on nil points and not playing very well.
Jose de Sousa's second-bottom and there's a massive difference there [in performance].
I probably need six points out of eight, that would be a story in itself. The positive things are that you're only 501 points away from a return to form.
I've dreamed a thousand times about playing in the Premier League, you get this magnificent high of holding that trophy up and it's turned into an absolute nightmare for me now.
I just want to go and start averaging over 90 again, start playing better, looking better on stage and having a much better demeanour."
Durrant begint het tweede blok van Premier League wedstrijden tegen Michael van Gerwen. Vorig jaar in de Premier League pakte Durrant een overwinning en een gelijkspel tegen de Nederlander.
Op de vraag of Durrant denkt of hij zijn Premier League seizoen kan kick-starten, zei hi: "I hope so - and it's that word hope. If you'd asked me 18 months ago it would have been "I expect so", so there's the difference between then and where my game is right now.
It just takes a spark, a win, a double, a bit of luck - and right now I'm praying for all of them.
People have said to me that it would be crazy that the game to turn me would be the best player in the world in MvG but I just want to go into that game and start enjoying my game again and start performing.
I had a yearly 97 average in my first year in the PDC and I just want to get back into some sort of form."
Durrant gebruikte zijn tiendaagse rustpauze tussen Premier League wedstrijden om veranderingen in zijn worp te analyseren en had ook drie dagen waarop hij geen pijl aanraakte.
DURRANT: "I'm sick to the stomach but this is not the end of the world. This is hurting but I've got a great life.
Other people are worried for my health, my mental state, and I'll say out loud that I'm absolutely fine. I'm very happy at home. I feel fit, I feel okay - it's psychological and confidence, I'm absolutely certain.
What I'd say to people is to watch the game eight months ago against Jeffrey de Zwaan in Milton Keynes, the first round of the World Matchplay, and then watch one of my Premier League matches last week.
My throw, my demeanour, the angle of the darts, I've forgotten how to smile, I'm not enjoying the game.
Watch those two matches, and then it's process of elimination of what the problem is; is it my mind? Is it technical? Is it the way I'm stood? Is it the way I'm holding the dart? Is it behind the scenes? Is it my preparation? Is it my practice routines?
It's that process of elimination that since October I've been trying to work out where the problems are, but there's something fundamentally different to my throw which I can't seem to address.
I firmly believe that it's in the mind. Something has creeped into my game but trying to correct it is not the easiest bit."
Durrant was erg blij met positieve berichten die hij de afgelopen twee weken heeft ontvangen. Ook kwam er een van zijn nichtje Zara en haar RAF-collega's (hierboven) op de Falkland Eilanden.
DURRANT: "The one thing that's come out of last week has been the support.
I'm going through a tough time but I've had so many highs in my life and you've got to ride the lows sometimes.
It's the latest chapter in the story, a challenge that I will overcome. I don't want people's sympathy - I thank them for it but I'm working incredibly hard to get it right.
I'm accepting the situation, it's not like I'm pretending it's not here. It's gone on for too long, it's not where I want my game to be. I'm a champion - I'm a winner and it hurts like hell to be sat bottom of the league right now on zero points.
A couple of wins and that will breed the confidence, and that's what I'm desperately in need of."
De Unibet Premier League keert op maandagavond 19 april terug met de zesde avond. Er worden vier avonden op rij gespeeld, waarbij aan het eind van de week bekend is welke acht spelers door zullen gaan naar de tweede fase van het toernooi.
Unibet Premier League
Avond 6 - Maandag 19 april
Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
Rob Cross v Gary Anderson
José de Sousa v James Wade
Jonny Clayton v Dimitri van den Bergh
Glen Durrant v Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall v Peter Wright
Best of 12 legs
© Foto: Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)