Daryl Gurney is determined to put his 'gutting' World Championship defeat behind him with a strong run at next week's Ladbrokes Masters.
Gurney was left to ponder what might've been at Alexandra Palace after going down 5-4 to eventual champion Gerwyn Price, losing a last-leg decider in their dramatic quarter-final clash.
But the Northern Irishman has vowed not to dwell on any negatives of a World Championship run that proved again he can deliver on the big stage.
“I’m not going to lie and say it wasn’t gutting. I was sick to the stomach," Gurney admitted.
"It was a big match. I came back from two-nil and four-two down and felt I could pinch it.
“I had a chance to win it and then who knows once you get into the last four, plus a big rival would have been out in Gerwyn.
“But that’s sport, it’s all ifs and buts I guess. It’s out of my system now, I’m looking ahead and need to make sure that I use that belief going forward."
A difficult 2020 campaign saw Gurney suffer a first round exit at the World Grand Prix before failing to qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts.
The 34-year-old dedicated himself to the practice board in the weeks leading up to the World Championship in an effort to rekindle the form that saw him win two televised titles.
“I was reasonably happy with how things went in the Worlds overall. You can’t help but want more," Gurney continued.
"I did enough damage to show people what I can do again.
“At no stage leading up to or during the World Championship did any pundit or anyone for that fact mention me as a threat. I’ve said before, I kind of like being off the radar so that doesn’t bother me.
“However it is important in so many ways for people to appreciate that I am a top player and I need to keep proving that.”
A Premier League competitor in 2018, 2019 and 2020, Gurney is still hopeful of claiming the tenth place in this year's Premier League.
A good display at the Ladbrokes Masters would improve his chances of selection, with his first assignment of the year seeing him take on Jeffrey de Zwaan for the right to face World Championship semi-finalist Dave Chisnall.
Gurney added: “I think realistically there’s only two or three players who should get that last place. If I win it I’m in the Premier League.
“To be totally honest, I just want to keep up my form from the Worlds. There’s a lot of passion back after a difficult year and I know I can beat the best when I’m in that mood.”
The Ladbrokes Masters will take place from January 29-31 at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.
Worldwide coverage will be led by host broadcaster ITV4 in the UK and Ireland, as well as through RTL7 in the Netherlands and DAZN in various global territories, as well as through the PDC's global broadcasters, for PDCTV Rest of the World Subscribers and through matchroom.live.
2021 Ladbrokes Masters
Friday January 29 (1900 GMT)
First Round x8
Ian White v Mensur Suljovic
Glen Durrant v Mervyn King
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Chris Dobey
Krzysztof Ratajski v Simon Whitlock
Michael Smith v Adrian Lewis
Daryl Gurney v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Jose de Sousa v Jonny Clayton
Joe Cullen v Stephen Bunting
Saturday January 30
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)
Second Round x4
Rob Cross v Durrant/King
James Wade v Van den Bergh/Dobey
Nathan Aspinall v White/Suljovic
Dave Chisnall v Gurney/De Zwaan
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Second Round x4
Gary Anderson v Smith/Lewis
Peter Wright v Ratajski/Whitlock
Gerwyn Price v Cullen/Bunting
Michael van Gerwen v De Sousa/Clayton
Sunday January 31
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Final