Durrant discusses form woes ahead of World Matchplay: "I used to have that aura, I don't now"

Glen Durrant went from the highs of winning the Premier League Darts to seeing his world fall upside down with long Covid as well as a subsequent drop in form.

Durrant heads into this year's World Matchplay in a different complexion to years gone by with two years ago seeing some of his best moments so far in the PDC.

But this time around he is clamouring to find form with Callan Rydz awaiting in the first round and he discussed the harsh reality of a loss in form.

"Seeing my averages plummet. It’s not like a loss of form is down to being unlucky. Chris Dobey was averaging over 100 for a tournament and didn’t win a game. I’m averaging 20 less and I was at my best. It’s been difficult," he said to the Northern Echo.

"When someone like Simon Whitlock is out of form, he’ll always talk positive. He’ll always say ‘it’s just a blip, I’ll be back’.

"I’ve always tried to answer questions with how I’m genuinely feeling and I’m trying to change that a little bit because sometimes your demeanour, when you’re going into a tournament, your head is down, your shoulders are down, you’re probably going to play poor.

"I used to have that aura of when I’d walk into a tournament, certainly in the BDO, but I don’t now. Very very difficult and there doesn’t seem to be much light at the end of the tunnel right now.

"I go for practice now and you just hope today's the day.

"Today’s the day I remember how I used to throw and the 180’s are flying in. I’m going into the third biggest tournament in the world. The most favoured tournament for many people in the wonderful Winter Gardens and all them wonderful memories of beating Michael Van Gerwen, that was two years ago.

"What I would say to people is just enjoy the good times when it’s happening because when it’s not going so well, you don’t half find out a lot about yourself."

“The only issue is I don’t have the default where I can go back to ‘how did I get through this before?’.

It has been duly noted that Durrant's throw isn't as it was when he was at his pomp in the BDO and he admitted that he has recently gone to see Wayne Mardle about this.

“The tension and anxiety that brings to your throw is fundamentally why I’m throwing different to how I used to be.

“When you’re happy and the games easy you don’t think, it’s just fluent.

“I am a thinker and I am someone who often self-reflects. If you name something, I’ve tried it. Whether it’s been new darts, news stems, new flights, the way I stand, the way I practice, physio, losing a bit of weight, seeing a coach which was the latest one.

“I went to see Wayne Mardle last week. He recognised what the problem was but it’s nothing I didn’t know but it’s not instant. He thought it would take five to six hours to really get back to the way I used to throw but there’s just something in my throw right now which, as much as I know what the problem is, I can’t seem to rectify that.

“Whatever happens after the Matchplay, I’ve got a period of time where August is usually a quiet period for the darts where I can really work on my game and try and peak again ready for a very very busy end of the season.

“Because I’m defending a lot of money, a lot of points and if I don’t buck my ideas up quickly, you can soon fall out the top 16 and then it becomes really difficult when your qualifying for events."