Glen Durrant has opened up on a 'horrible' few weeks since testing positive for Covid-19 as he embarks on his fifth consecutive appearance at the BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts.
After lifting the Premier League title on October 15 in what Durrant described as 'the proudest moment of his career', he tested positive for coronavirus just a week later.
Durrant received a negative test to compete in last week's PDC Winter Series, but admits the after-effects of the illness are still having a significant impact on his body.
"I feel fine now but I'm still not entirely myself. I'm on the road to recovery," said Durrant.
"I was very, very poorly. It was a really bad case of Covid that both my wife and I had.
"It knocked the stuffing out of me for about six or seven days, even to the point where I was thinking of seeking medical advice.
"It was horrible. I knew I was getting better though after a few days, and thankfully I tested negative last week.
"It's just been a horrible time, a rubbish few weeks. The upsetting thing is I never had chance to celebrate my Premier League win.
"I didn't play anything like I can at the Winter Series and that's down to what I've been through these past few weeks."
Durrant will compete as a PDC Qualifier for the first time at the Grand Slam of Darts, having featured as a BDO representative from 2016-19.
The world number 13 had been handed a difficult draw in Group F alongside James Wade, Damon Heta and Jermaine Wattimena, who he will face in this afternoon's opener.
"I was always in the 'group of death' when I was playing as a BDO player and that trend seems to have continued," Durrant admitted.
"It's a fabulous tournament to play in and I hope I can produce somewhere near my best game this week.
"I can honestly say if the Grand Slam wasn't on I would still be at home recuperating which tells you how much this tournament means to me.
"I'll be giving it everything I've got."
The BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts will see a 32-player field, comprising PDC event winners and qualifiers along with two BDO players, competing for £550,000 in prize money.
The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, as well as through the PDC's international broadcast partners including RTL7 and DAZN and for PDCTV Rest of the World Subscribers.
Schedule of Play
Monday November 16
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
8x Group matches
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
8x Group matches
Tuesday November 17
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
8x Group matches
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
8x Group matches
Wednesday November 18 (1500 GMT)
8x Group matches
Thursday November 19 (1900 GMT)
8x Group matches
Friday November 20 (1900 GMT)
4x Last 16 matches
Saturday November 21 (1900 GMT)
4x Last 16 matches
Sunday November 22
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
2x Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
2x Quarter-Finals
Monday November 23 (1900 GMT)
2x Semi-Finals
Tuesday November 24 (1800 GMT)
Final