Daryl Gurney confronts referee after Grand Slam elimination
Northern Irish darts player Daryl Gurney engaged in a confrontation with match official Kirk Bevins following his elimination from the Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred immediately after Gurney’s 5-3 defeat to Czech competitor Karel Sedlacek at the WV Active Aldersley venue in Wolverhampton. Gurney, currently ranked 24th in the PDC Order of Merit, approached the referee directly after the match concluded.
The Professional Darts Corporation was reportedly unaware of the on-stage incident as of Sunday night, raising questions about any potential disciplinary measures. Gurney’s loss meant he faced elimination from the tournament, which was confirmed later that evening when Luke Littler defeated Connor Scutt 5-3.
This defeat left Gurney visibly agitated. After exchanging the customary handshake with Sedlacek and retrieving his darts, Gurney bypassed the typical post-match protocol, instead heading directly towards Bevins. Witnesses described the exchange as tense, marking an unusual end to Gurney’s Grand Slam campaign.
The confrontation concluded with Gurney walking away while shaking his head in frustration. Following this, he declined to participate in any post-match media obligations, a further deviation from standard tournament procedures.
The nature of Gurney’s grievance with the referee remains unclear. However, the PDC maintains stringent regulations regarding player behaviour and respect toward match officials. Previous incidents at the Grand Slam have resulted in considerable financial penalties for players breaching conduct standards, raising the possibility of similar repercussions for Gurney.
Notably, in 2018, Gerwyn Price was fined £21,500 and received a three-month ban for his conduct during the tournament. Such historical precedents suggest that the PDC may review Gurney’s actions and determine appropriate sanctions if violations of conduct guidelines are found.
As Gurney reflects on a difficult night, his actions remind us how the pressures of competition can manifest in unexpected ways, hinting at the fine line athletes walk between passion and composure.
