Daryl Gurney joins PDC Home Tour absentee list due to lack of setup

Daryl Gurney has added his name to the list of PDC stars not taking part in the Home Tour series.

The PDC recently confirmed plans for the at-home extravaganza, with the first night of action taking place on Friday. A number of top players have withdrawn from the event, most notably Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson. World number six Gurney will similarly be absent.

"I wouldn't have minded playing to get my arm going again but I haven't got the room for it," Superchin told BBC Sport.

"You need to have a video going and it has to be quiet. With my sister working from home in the next room it just wouldn't comply with the rules the PDC put out.

"If I had nobody else in the house I would probably do it but I won't be watching - when I'm on a break from darts I take a total break from it."

Tight spaces

Gurney admitted that his darting setup is far from ideal, when compared to the elaborate home oches others have decked their homes with.

"I probably have the worst throw of all the top players. I just play at the top of the stairs with just the standard house light on.

"Most of the leading players have a proper room kitted out for the job with fancy lighting, a proper surround, a proper dart board and a proper oche.

"My dartboard is on the back of my bedroom door. I stand in the hall at the top of the stairs and I have one foot in the bathroom and one in the hall so if someone needs to go the bathroom I can't throw. There is definitely nothing fancy about it."

Relief

Barry Hearn has floated the idea of playing events behind closed doors, but for now, it won't be happening. Gurney, for one, is glad.

"To be playing in front of the big crowds is what makes it good for us - whenever we throw the 180s, hit the big finishes, that's what it is all about," the Northern Irish ace said.

"It wouldn't be the same playing in a massive arena with 10,000 people missing so for me I'm glad they have cancelled. For me if there was no crowd I wouldn't play.

"We need the crowd, that's what gets you practicing and motivated. That's why we put in the dedication and hard work to show we can play darts."