“I would go to bed every night crying“ – Glen Durrant sympathises with Josh Rock's Premier League Darts nightmare

Glen Durrant has spoken candidly about the toughest spell of his career. The former Premier League Darts champion revealed that during his disastrous 2021 campaign he went to bed in tears every night.

‘Duzza’, who impressively captured the Premier League title in 2020, suffered a remarkable downturn a year later. In a COVID-shortened format he lost all nine matches and finished on zero points. A harsh reality for a player who had so recently been among the absolute world elite.

Five years on, Durrant spoke openly about the mental toll of that period. “When I got zero points in 2021 it only took place over 10 nights because it was during COVID,” he told the Double Tops podcast. “It was really tough losing every night and I would go to bed every night crying.“

He specifically mentioned clashes against stars like Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen. “I would see I was playing Gezzy [Gerwyn Price] or Michael van Gerwen and I would honestly think how would I get through this?"

Yet with hindsight, Durrant also sees an important lesson in that difficult period. “It’s hard and it’s not fun losing but this will be the making of a dart player. It’s not always positive and it’s not always easy being in the Premier League.”

He directed that message to Josh Rock as well, who is currently going through a similarly rough patch in this season’s Premier League campaign. The Northern Irishman remains on zero points after seven weeks, but Durrant believes there is no need to panic. “Josh is getting that week in between where, as you just mentioned there, he’s winning games. He’s got to a semi-final of the UK Open. So, things are going okay for him."

The former Premier League winner stresses that these tough phases are crucial to a top player’s development. “You mustn’t panic. This is a test of his character. It’s horrible, it’s awful, but this is the making of a dart player.

According to Durrant, it ultimately comes down to resilience. “It’s not always positive, it’s not always great. He has to deal with it; he has to come out fighting.”

With his honest account, Durrant offers a rare glimpse into the mental pressure of elite darts. Behind the spotlights and packed arenas lies a harsh reality, where even the biggest names face doubt, pain, and setbacks.