by Orlagh Mullan

Daryl Gurney’s recent heroics at the Matchplay Championships have booked him a place in a trio of World Series events that will take place in New Zealand and Australia.

The local man will firstly compete in Auckland from August 11-13 before traveling to Melbourne for further matches from August 18-20, then finally finishing up in Perth from August 25-27.

It’s the first time that the 31-year-old has been invited to the events on the other side of the world and it continues what has been his best year yet on the darts stage.

Last week Gurney was unlucky to lose out on a spot in the World Matchplay finals when he was narrowly defeated by world number three Peter Wright, but there was no shame in his record as he dispatched of world number two Gary Anderson and number six Mensur Suljovic on his way to the final four.

That came less than a fortnight after he finished runner-up to top man Michael Van Gerwen at the US Masters event, also part of the World Series, which is held in Las Vegas – where he also beat Anderson.

Also a World Championship quarter-finalist and UK Open semi-finalist, Gurney’s recent showings have also earned him a jump in the world rankings as he continues his journey to becoming one of the top ten players, rising to 12^th in the PDC Order of Merit.

His spell-binding run of form has been rewarded with a place in the upcoming Auckland Masters, Melbourne Masters and Perth Masters as he aims to further establish himself among the world's elite.

Reflecting on his recent form, the Derry man admitted that he couldn’t help but be pleased with how much he improving, and the big scalps that he has been able to take when it counts.

"I'm absolutely delighted to have been given another chance in the World Series," said Gurney.

"I loved every minute of it in Las Vegas and it was great to reach the final and push Michael so hard. To take that into the World Matchplay and do so well has been fantastic too, and I want to keep learning and improving.”

Gurney admits that coming into last week’s Blackpool event he had an idea that there was a possibility he could be invited to join his fellow elite players in Australia and New Zealand but says he tried to avoid that distraction and just play the best darts that he could – and it has led to a dream come true.

"I never thought when I got a Tour Card five years ago that I'd be travelling all over the world but now I've got the opportunity I want to make the most of it.

"I knew coming into the World Matchplay that there was one spot up for grabs still in Auckland, Melbourne and Perth and it was in the back of my mind, but I had to focus on winning my matches and this is a lovely bonus.”

Gurney will be joined in the star-studded events by Peter Wright, his conqueror in Blackpool, two-time World Champion Gary Anderson, 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor, five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, multiple major champion James Wade, Australian duo Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson and former World Youth Champion Michael Smith.

The line-ups will be completed by a series of regional qualifiers from New Zealand and Australia, including the likes of Corey Cadby, Cody Harris.

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