FOUR years on from his astonishing Premier League victory, Teesside darts icon Glen Durrant is about to take on another challenge, the World Seniors Darts Tour, back in front of a North-East crowd.

And it’s a challenge he’s relishing – even if he won’t quite say as much.

‘Duzza’ took a bit of time to respond to the question of whether he was looking forward to playing in the region again, focusing on his form and mental health.

“I am looking forward to it,” he says from his hotel room – he is due to commentate on the World Grand Prix for Sky later that evening – “I think maybe a year ago I might have said that it makes me nervous to go back. I’m definitely throwing a dart better than I have done.

“But, I’m not going to go to Sunderland and not perform. The darts are coming out of my hands better.”

Despite his astonishing PDC Premier League win on October 15, 2020, Durrant never matched those heights again, crashing out early in competitions that followed and failing to qualify for the 2023 World Championship.

(Image: PA) He struggled with performance anxiety and has worked with a sports psychologist since and believes the Seniors tour coming to Washington in November will help ‘get the adrenaline flowing’ again.

“There’s no better place than home in the North-East," he said. "Whether you’re a Mackem, a Geordie, a Smoggie, they’re all as one when it comes to darts. “The support I got from people from Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough was incredible.

“You don’t want to let them down. That’s why I’ve taken a couple of weeks off before to really knuckle down and see if I could find some magic in the practice.”

WSDT Masters, an event for darts players over 50 who do not have a professional tour card, is coming to Sunderland for the first time in its history on November 8-9 and will also be the final appearance of legendary record-breaking darts champion Phil Taylor on the tour.

“I think Phil will play it down,” Duzza says. “He’s the greatest in our sport and he’ll not want to go down with a damp squib. He’ll give it absolutely everything. That’s why he’s the greatest darts player who ever lived – and in my opinion the greatest sportsman this country has ever produced.”

But ‘The Power’ will not let this tournament pass him by, even after some injury issues, says Duzza – “Wouldn’t it be some story for his final tournament to go out as a champion. That’s all he’s done all his life.”

(Image: Nick Ansell/PA Wire) Durrant is full of praise for the WSDT which he says has given a new life to players who thought their best days were behind them and predicts some big names will be signing up for the competition in the future.

Middlesbrough-born Durrant has pivoted from player to pundit in recent years, taking up the microphone in Sky’s coverage of the World Championships last December and quickly becoming a fans’ favourite in the commentary box.

“I see the game differently now because as a player you’re just in a bubble,” he says reflecting on his time learning the ropes of commentary at the Modus Super Series before being approached by Sky Sports last year.

The stand-out moment of last year’s World Championships was teenage rookie Luke Littler who burst out of nowhere to reach the final and has since gone on to win a hatful of trophies, including the Premier League adding his name to a list that includes Durrant’s.

(Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire) “I don’t think he’ll have the longevity of Phil Taylor,” Durrant asserts. “He’s earning incredible money.”

“I think Luke Littler could have a five or 10 year spell in the game and break every record going because he’s the greatest 17-year-old we’ve ever seen.

“But I don’t believe we’ll be here in 20 or 30 years and talking about him as a 17-time World Champion.”

 “But let’s just enjoy him while he’s here!”

* The World Seniors Darts Masters kicks off on Friday November 8 through to Saturday November 9 at Nissan Sports and Leisure Complex in Washington. Tickets are still available for the event and can be purchased at: https://dartshop.tv/wsdt-masters-8th-9th-november-2024/.