Gurney Admits he "Blew" Premier Chance
Daryl Gurney admitted he “blew” his Unibet Premier League chance after all but crashing out of title contention.
The Derry ace produced an outstanding fightback to draw 6-6 with Michael Smith in Birmingham last night - and now needs a miracle leg swing in Aberdeen next week to qualify.
His Play-Off place hangs by a thread despite six 180s and two sensational 147 and 167 finishes against Bully Boy.
He said: “I knew a blew my chance when I got all the draws at the start. But that’s my own fault. If I can finish fifth in my first Premier League that’s what I deserve because all the top four players beat me.
“The league table doesn’t lie. I didn’t do enough because I didn’t beat the top four and they deserve to go to the O2.
“There’s no doubt I’m a better player for it. When it started I was so nervous I questioned whether I deserved to be here.
“If I’d got over those nerves quicker and playing the way I’m playing now I thinK I could have been in with a stronger shout of the top four.
“The Premier League is all about consistency from start to finish and I didn’t turn up until the midway point and that’s my own fault.”
Gurney found himself 3-1 and 4-2 down but produced a stirring fightback with those two big checkouts. But when Bully Boy secured the draw with a deciding leg victory, Superchin was out of the PL reckoning, needing a win to really pressurise fourth-placed Gary Anderson.
Smith said: “I had a job to do there. I feel really sorry for Daryl he needed to beat me to stay in it but I had to do that job for me.
“I’m over the moon I am through to the O2 but obviously gutted for Daryl because he’s a good friends. But when we’re up there we are not friends. I’ve got money to earn and tournaments to win.”
Peter Wright secured his fourth win of the PL, beating Simon Whitlock 7-4, to move off the bottom of the table.
Gary Anderson has one foot in the Unibet Premier League Play-Offs despite a sluggish defeat to Raymond van Barneveld. The Flying Scotsman was strangely off the pace against RVB and went down 7-3 in Birmingham. Ando is two points ahead of Daryl Gurney and now would need to be whitewashed by Michael van Gerwen and Superchin beat Peter Wright 7-0 in Aberdeen next week for him to miss out on the O2. He admitted: “It was just one of those nights. Raymond was playing without pressure because he’s not going to make it through. “That made him play more freely and that showed early doors. I broke his throw and thought I’d get back into it but he broke me straight back that was a setback. “It would need a miracle or disaster for me not to make it now. But I never take anything for granted so I’ll have to get a result in Aberdeen. “It’s on my home soil, I always get a great reception in Aberdeen and I can’t wait to get up there and play Michael.”
Mighty Michael van Gerwen admitted he was “deadly” after blitzing Rob Cross to win the Premier League table for a sixth year running. MVG was back to his best to overcome Voltage 7-2 with a 111.57 average and 144 finish in Birmingham last night. It meant another league table-topping campaign for the Dutchman, the way it has finished every year he has been in the PL. He admitted: “Job is done. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes and in the beginning I was deadly. I didn’t do anything wrong and kept putting him under pressure. “He didn’t do too bad but I was too dominant in this game. “I know I’m the better player but I have to do it a bit more often, that’s the only thing. Sometimes I let myself down but this win gives me a lot of confidence and a good feeling. “I work hard to go to this level and takes some doing to do this. If you play against other phenomenal players in the world, you have to play well if you want to win. “It was an important one for me, I want to be top of the table and I did it again, sixth year running. “Of course the O2 is the main goal for me but next week is another preparation game in Aberdeen against Gary Anderson, that’s always a good game. “There’s no pressure because I’ve won the league and through to the O2 but I really want to win, I don’t want to let myself or my friends down.” Cross averaged over 101 but had no answer to MVG as he roared into a 4-0 lead and never looked like being pegged back thereafter.
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia) Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC
Gary Anderson has one foot in the Unibet Premier League Play-Offs despite a sluggish defeat to Raymond van Barneveld. The Flying Scotsman was strangely off the pace against RVB and went down 7-3 in Birmingham. Ando is two points ahead of Daryl Gurney and now would need to be whitewashed by Michael van Gerwen and Superchin beat Peter Wright 7-0 in Aberdeen next week for him to miss out on the O2. He admitted: “It was just one of those nights. Raymond was playing without pressure because he’s not going to make it through. “That made him play more freely and that showed early doors. I broke his throw and thought I’d get back into it but he broke me straight back that was a setback. “It would need a miracle or disaster for me not to make it now. But I never take anything for granted so I’ll have to get a result in Aberdeen. “It’s on my home soil, I always get a great reception in Aberdeen and I can’t wait to get up there and play Michael.”
Mighty Michael van Gerwen admitted he was “deadly” after blitzing Rob Cross to win the Premier League table for a sixth year running. MVG was back to his best to overcome Voltage 7-2 with a 111.57 average and 144 finish in Birmingham last night. It meant another league table-topping campaign for the Dutchman, the way it has finished every year he has been in the PL. He admitted: “Job is done. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes and in the beginning I was deadly. I didn’t do anything wrong and kept putting him under pressure. “He didn’t do too bad but I was too dominant in this game. “I know I’m the better player but I have to do it a bit more often, that’s the only thing. Sometimes I let myself down but this win gives me a lot of confidence and a good feeling. “I work hard to go to this level and takes some doing to do this. If you play against other phenomenal players in the world, you have to play well if you want to win. “It was an important one for me, I want to be top of the table and I did it again, sixth year running. “Of course the O2 is the main goal for me but next week is another preparation game in Aberdeen against Gary Anderson, that’s always a good game. “There’s no pressure because I’ve won the league and through to the O2 but I really want to win, I don’t want to let myself or my friends down.” Cross averaged over 101 but had no answer to MVG as he roared into a 4-0 lead and never looked like being pegged back thereafter.
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia) Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC