James Hurrell is aiming to take another major step forward at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship when he faces Ryan Searle for a place in the quarter-finals on Monday at Alexandra Palace.
The 41-year-old delivered one of the standout performances of round three, averaging 98 to defeat world number four Stephen Bunting in a dramatic deciding-set encounter. Fresh from that breakthrough win, Hurrell insists he is playing with a new-found belief and fearlessness.
“I wasn’t nervous,” the Englishman insisted.
“I knew where my game was coming into the game. I just need to sort my doubles out a bit, and I’m confident I’m not going anywhere.
“I should’ve won 4-0 to be fair. It’s just a bit of hard work with doubles, like I keep saying about my game, doubles. I should have won 4-0.
“I just knew to concentrate, don’t go anywhere. I’ve got a different mindset nowadays.
“I felt relaxed. I’m not feeling any nerves or anything. I’m just so confident in my game.”
Hurrell, who secured his PDC Tour Card in 2024, applied relentless pressure on Bunting, landing five ton-plus checkouts including decisive 121 and 161 finishes.
“The whole of my game was important to beating Stephen,” Hurrell acknowledged.
“The scoring, the doubles – if I’m not on point with any of them, you get beaten. He’s number four in the world; he’s amazing; he’s a great player.
“I didn’t feel any negative thoughts, just ‘Come on, James, let’s go again.’
“There was definitely something coming out of Stephen winning a leg. I put him under pressure to produce those big outshots.
“It made me feel more confident. I was putting him under pressure, so I was doing something right.”
Standing in his way is Ryan Searle, the world number 20, who has yet to drop a set in this year’s tournament. Searle, a three-time last-16 finisher at Ally Pally, was equally respectful of the challenge ahead.
“I was keeping my eye on that match a little bit,” claimed Searle.
“If you can average 98 over seven sets, that’s a really high standard. You need to play well to try to beat that.
“If it wasn’t for the 121 and 161, I think he would’ve won that game pretty comfortably.
“I know I’m going to have to play well to win the next game, and I think for both of us it’s the biggest game in our careers so far.”
Source: PDC.TV
