Daryl Gurney has made a striking change in his bid to turn results around, returning to the oche wearing glasses in recent weeks — no less than 21 years after he last played in specs. That first stint ended in remarkable fashion: his glasses were stolen during a tournament.
Gurney is enduring a difficult season. The 40-year-old missed the World Matchplay for the first time since 2015 and also failed to qualify for the World Grand Prix. Big runs on the ProTour have been scarce as well, and the two-time major champion has now gone two years without a semi-final at a Players Championship event.
In an effort to lift his level, Gurney went back to something he tried as a teenager. His right eye has always been short-sighted and, as a right-hander, that makes it his dominant eye. "I've always been short-sighted," Gurney told Winmau. "I was playing with glasses when I was 19, probably for a year or something." That came to a sudden end at a tournament. "Then in a competition I got knocked out in the latter stages, like a semi-final. I just sat them down, went to the toilet, came back and they were gone." Gurney can now laugh about the fact it took more than two decades to try glasses again. "They were stolen. I will say I am slow, but it took me 21 years to put them back on again." Gurney also wore his glasses at the recent Czech Darts Open.
The difference is obvious, says "Superchin". Where he previously struggled to focus on certain areas of the board, the glasses have removed that issue. "I can see the board, it's just hitting the board is the problem now," he joked. "I have always been short-sighted in my right eye. Obviously, because I am right-handed, it is my dominant eye. The trebles now look crystal clear. I can actually see it, it is not just squiggly lines. But now it's just training to hit where it is not squiggly."
Gurney has only been playing in glasses for about three weeks and is still adjusting. Early signs are positive, though. "I feel like it has improved me. I go into practice some nights, I have only been doing it for the last three weeks." His first real test came at the qualifier for the World Series of Darts Finals. "I rocked up there, gave it a good go and won a couple of games there. It was a good feeling knowing whenever you put your foot on the oche, knowing there is something wrong, and realise it is my glasses, then put them on again."
Whether the glasses become a permanent part of his setup will become clear in the coming weeks. Gurney has a simple fallback if the experiment fails. "Hopefully they are an improvement. If not, then they are going in the bin."
Gurney gets the chance to test the new setup further on a big stage this week. The Northern Irishman, along with Maik Kuivenhoven, received a late invite to the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam after the Philippines' Lourence Ilagan and Alexis Toylo withdrew due to visa issues. A marquee tie awaits Gurney straight away: he faces defending champion Michael van Gerwen in round one. The former winner of the World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals did not hesitate when the invite arrived. "Of course I was going to say yes. A chance to play on TV again, especially it being on a massive stage. I am looking forward to it. Thanks to the PDC for inviting me. Every game I am playing now recently with the glasses is a new experience."
Still, Gurney could yet decide to ditch the glasses mid-tournament. "So, will I be wearing them next week? I am not sure. Probably nine times out of ten I will be wearing them. If it's not going well and I feel like my eyesight is actually not that bad, because it's not that bad at the oche, but if I stand a foot back it has gone all blurry." Gurney feels little pressure against Van Gerwen. He sees the unexpected invitation as a bonus. "Free hit, looking forward to it. Anything on TV I will say yes to. I am playing one of the greatest dart players that has ever lived and I love playing Michael."
