"I even missed my wife on the way up": Darryl Pilgrim remarks tunnel vision before matches

Darryl Pilgrim looked visibly relieved after securing his first European Tour win of 2026 at the Poland Darts Open. What had started as a composed and controlled display against Dave Chisnall turned into a dramatic and nervy finish, but the Englishman got the job done.

“Technically I had one last year as a Tour Card holder, but that did end up very nervy,” Pilgrim said afterwards to Tungsten Tales. “I felt so comfortable at the start and I was so focused on my game, that’s why I forgot to shake everyone’s hand at first and I had to go back and do it. I was straight to the task. But yeah, I’m over the moon.”

Pilgrim’s European Tour tunnel vision was clear from the walk-on. So focused was he on the task ahead that he momentarily forgot the customary pre-match handshakes.

“I was so comfortable and so focused on my own game that I forgot to shake everyone’s hand,” he explained. “I had to walk back and do it.”

It is not the first time his intense concentration has caused an awkward moment. “The very first time I played, three or four years ago, I even missed my wife on the way up. I was that focused on the game, just to get up there and play, because sometimes things can distract you.”

For Pilgrim, that narrow focus is simply part of how he competes.

On stage he faced one of the most experienced players on the European Tour circuit in Chisnall, a multiple title winner at this level.

“I just played one of the guys with the most experience ever on a Euro Tour,” Pilgrim said. “Luckily, he let me off in the end. But yeah, experience counts for a lot in this game.”

That experience, and the chaos that sometimes comes with it, was most evident in a remarkable closing passage.

The match looked destined for a deciding leg when Chisnall created multiple chances on a double, while Pilgrim was still stranded on a big finish.

“When he first left the double and I was still on nearly 200, I was getting ready for the last leg,” Pilgrim admitted. “I thought, ‘Right, I’ve got the throw in the last leg, save it for then.’”

But the decisive leg never came. “He kept missing and it almost affected me as well. It was just one of those legs. I’m just glad I finally got the double.”

The stop-start nature of the finish disrupted his rhythm and threatened to shift the pressure back onto him, but he held firm when it mattered most.

Pilgrim has already tested himself against some of the sport’s biggest names, including Raymond van Barneveld on the ProTour. Asked about facing, and beating, such experienced opponents, he was honest about the mental battle involved.

“It’s hard sometimes not to play the player, you just want to play the board. But as much as you try, it can get in the back of your mind. Once you switch that off, you feel a lot better.”

That shift in mindset has been part of his development over the past year as a full-time professional.

“Oh yeah, it definitely feels a lot different,” he said of life as a Tour Card holder. “When you’re back as an amateur, you’re just playing for the love of the game. When it’s your job, it almost puts a bit more pressure on you. That’s probably one thing that’s affected me over the last year, to be honest.”

Despite the nervy ending in Poland, Pilgrim believes his form is trending in the right direction.

“Apart from that nervous end, I’ve already felt a lot better this year, as you can see on the ProTour and some of the stuff I threw the other day in the qualifiers and obviously qualifying for this,” he said. “It’s just the odd game at the moment, but I’m nearly there. I feel like I’ll be back to my best very, very soon.”

Now in his fifth Euro Tour appearance, and with a full year as a Tour Card holder behind him, Pilgrim feels ready to make deeper runs at these events.

“Yeah, 100 per cent. These Euro Tours are so crucial as a Tour Card holder when you’re down towards that end because they make a difference qualifying for the Worlds, qualifying for your rankings. They definitely make a difference. So I’m definitely ready for a nice run.”

Although Chisnall had not been in his best form coming into the event, Pilgrim insisted that never factored into his preparation.

“He hasn’t been playing the best, but you know Chisnall’s a class player. He switches it on and he can absolutely destroy anyone in the world. So yeah, that doesn’t matter.”

Next up is another major test, but his preparation will remain simple.

“I’ll just have something to eat and go back to the room, chill out and then get ready for tomorrow. That’ll be about it, to be honest.”

And as for extra practice after surviving that dramatic finale?

“You can never replicate the match nerves. You can go and hit everything out there, but that little bit of extra match pressure and then it just misses. I’ll still do the same preparation for tomorrow, no difference, to be honest.”

Away from the oche, Pilgrim was delighted simply to be competing in Poland.

“When I qualified for Poland, I was well happy. I’ve always wanted to visit Poland, so I was well happy to come.”

He has not yet had time to explore. “We literally got here yesterday and obviously playing today, so no. I’d like to think I’ll be playing all the days, but if I’m not, then I will explore the city.”

And on trying the local speciality? “My mate mentioned pierogi. Yeah, I might have to give it a go. Sounds quite nice, to be fair.”

For now, Pilgrim’s focus remains firmly on the darts, tunnel vision and all.