Daryl Gurney handed invite by the PDC to compete in World Series triple-header in New Zealand and Australia next month

Daryl Gurney has been handed an invite by the PDC to compete in the World Series of Darts triple-header in New Zealand and Australia next month.

The Northern Irishman, who reached the semi-finals of the World Matchplay this week, made his World Series debut earlier this month when he finished runner-up in the US Darts Masters in Las Vegas, narrowly losing out to world number one Michael van Gerwen 8-6 in the final.

After reaching the World Championship quarter-finals at the end of last season, Gurney has continued to rise through the ranks in the PDC, with runs to the semi-finals of the UK Open in March, and the World Matchplay this week, seeing him provisionally set to climb up to a career-high of 12th on the Order of Merit.

The 31-year-old saw off Benito van de Pas, Gary Anderson and Mensur Suljovic on his way to the last four in Blackpool this week, with that latest good run seeing him now take the final place in the three World Series events in August.

Gurney will play in the Auckland Darts Masters (August 11-13), Melbourne Darts Masters (August 18-20) and Perth Darts Masters (August 25-27) next month, and after being selected expressed his delight at being given the invitation.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been given another chance in the World Series,” he said.

“I loved every minute of it in Las Vegas and it was great to reach the final and push Michael so hard. To take that into the World Matchplay and do so well has been fantastic too, and I want to keep learning and improving.

“I never thought when I got a tour card five years ago that I’d be travelling all over the world but now I’ve got the opportunity I want to make the most of it.

“I knew coming into the World Matchplay that there was one spot up for grabs still in Auckland, Melbourne and Perth and it was in the back of my mind, but I had to focus on winning my matches and this is a lovely bonus.”

Gurney is the eighth invited PDC representative for the Australasia triple-header next month, and joins Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade, Phil Taylor, Michael Smith and Simon Whitlock in the three events.