Reigning BDO world champion Glen Durrant has admitted that he would love to join the Professional Darts Corporation next year if he was offered a tour-card by PDC chairman Barry Hearn.
Durrant was speaking to Tungsten Tales after sealing his spot in the Grand Slam quarter-finals with a 10-8 victory over 2014 finalist Dave Chisnall. The Teesside star averaged 99.33, piled in seven maximums and converted 45% of his attempts at double to become the first BDO player since 2013 to reach the last eight at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
“Of course it was a battle because he’s the seventh best player in the world, he’s a Premier League player and I was pinching myself up there that I was playing these kind of guys and I felt so good. The stage is magnificent and to come through is really important. I’m going to really enjoy the quarter-finals now; that’s for sure,” ‘Duzza’ said.
Durrant will defend his Lakeside World Championship title in January, but admitted he would love to ply his trade in the PDC in 2018. Nevertheless, he revealed that contractual disputes with the British Darts Organisation could hamper his darting dreams.
The 48-year-old has signed a contract which forbids him from switching codes should he reach the semi-finals or final at the 2018 Lakeside World Championship and if he wishes to join the PDC ranks next season, he may be forced to relinquish any prize money earned during the tournament.
Durrant revealed: “I’ve signed a contract for Lakeside. If I get to the semi-finals I’ve got real problems then. If I don’t I’ll be going to Q-School; you can take that on camera.
The Middlesbrough ace then issued a come-and-get-me plea to Hearn, adding: “Barry Hearn, give me a tour card. If I get to the semi’s, runner-up or final then give me a tour-card and talk to the BDO.”
Nevertheless, Hearn later took to twitter to confirm that no tour card invite would be offered to Durrant, insisting that he would have to earn his spot on the PDC circuit by progressing through PDC Qualifying School in January.
Durrant insisted that he was proud to be representing the British Darts Organisation in Wolverhampton, but admitted that at the age of 48, it was a case of now or never to take the plunge to the PDC.
He added: “I love the BDO, I’m representing the BDO. They gave me the Lakeside championship and that I’ll never forget, but at 48 years old I’ve got one challenge left and I don’t want contracts to get in the way.
“It’s important that I’m not disrespectful of the BDO and I will probably look back at this interview tomorrow and say keep your mouth shut Glen, but I love the BDO and I’m representing the BDO.
“I’m the last man now in the quarter-finals. If I was 28 years old I’d be staying where I am but I just believe at 48, there’s one challenge left. If I can match Dave Chisnall, if I can match Peter Wright, took Corey Cadby all the way, Alan Norris; you know, I’m not doing bad there.”
However, Durrant concluded: “I’ve signed a contract with Lakeside. I’ll be playing at Lakeside. That Lakeside contract says if I get to the semi-finals, finals or win it, then I can’t go to Q-School. There’s politics involved. You’ve asked me the question do I want to play in the PDC; I’m big on social media and I’ve gone on social media and said those same things.
“I’ve also signed that contract because I wanted to respect that Lakeside trophy and I will be giving everything I can to win the Lakeside trophy. What happens after that is a different matter.”
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/PDC
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