“I've been really struggling from whenever they changed the criteria” – Daryl Gurney says PDC’s controversial Euro Tour changes have impacted his form
PDCTuesday, 29 April 2025 at 15:00
The PDC has made several adjustments to the European Tour's format and qualification criteria in recent seasons — and not all players are happy with the direction things are heading. Among those feeling the effects is Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney, who believes the recent changes have played a role in his ongoing dip in form.
The most significant change for 2025 sees the top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit automatically placed into the second round of Euro Tour events, beginning on Saturdays. This slot was previously reserved for the top 16 on the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Last season, Gurney put in a great deal of effort to climb those Pro Tour rankings in order to benefit from the Saturday entry — only to find himself back playing first-round matches on Fridays due to the rule switch.
“In all honesty, I have been terrible all year. Only these last three to four weeks, I have tried to build myself up and get better,” Gurney reflected last weekend during his run to the quarter-final of the Austrian Darts Open in Graz - his first Pro Tour quarter-final of the year. “I have been really struggling from whenever they changed the criteria"
In an effort to turn things around, the two-time major winner has been experimenting with his setup and mindset, hoping to rediscover the form that once saw him competing among the elite in Premier League Darts.
“I changed the points on my darts," he explained. "I know it’s the wrong time to do it whenever you are playing on the European Tour. But I just have been really struggling.”
Still, his recent performance in Austria could mark a turning point, giving Gurney something to build on as the season continues.
“Hopefully now I can kick on for the rest of the year because I am doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes to get me more mentally ready than just practicing and hitting the dartboard,” concludes the 39-year-old Northern Irishman.
Daryl bowed out of the Austrian Darts Open at the quarter final stage, as his compatriot Josh Rock took a 6-3 win in their last eight meeting.
— Daryl Gurney (@Superchin180) April 27, 2025
It's been a solid weekend on the Euro Tour for chin.
Daryl will move on to the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen from Friday. pic.twitter.com/cdX0FOpwrV
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