For almost two years, Glen Durrant lived out his darting dream with the PDC - charging up the rankings as one of the most feared players on the planet, winning titles and lifting the Premier League crown.

But that memorable night in October 2020, the high point of his PDC career, also turned out to be the start of a surprise decline for the Teessider, whose form dramatically disappeared.

Over the past two years, which has included some "very, very difficult times", Durrant has tried everything to rediscover the touch that took him to three successive BDO world crowns and made him one of the world's best players.

Whether his struggle has been down to confidence or a technical element of his throw, priority number one was learning to love darts again. And that's why Durrant this week announced that he was stepping away from the professional circuit.

That doesn't mean he's retiring. Indeed, less than 24 hours after confirming he wouldn't be playing on the PDC tour next year, the 52-year-old announced he's accepted an invitation to the World Seniors Darts Championships in February, where he'll go up against the likes of Phil 'The Power' Taylor, Robert Thornton and Martin Adams.

It's the first of four senior majors Durrant will play in in 2023.

For Duzza, the aim is clear: start to enjoy his darts again, learn to win again, regain some confidence - and see where that takes him.

"Darts is about highs and lows," he tells The Northern Echo.

"I had two years of absolute ecstasy in the PDC. Everything I touched turned to gold, travelling everywhere, playing in front of 12,000 people, topping the Premier League, it couldn't get any better.

"When that winning double went in at the Premier League, something switched and whatever that was, even to this day, whether it's lack of confidence, a technical issue, mindset, I don't know, but I was never the same player after that night."

The battle to rediscover his best form while suffering one demoralising defeat after another has been incredibly testing, but Durrant says he never took his struggles on the oche home with him.

"The moment I walk through the door at home, it didn't affect me," he said.

"Don't get me wrong, it was on my mind, but I was in my happy place at home.  What is difficult is if I'm out and about, I go to Redcar most days for some fresh air, and the times people come up to me with the same questions: 'Are you still playing? What happened?'. There are times when you just want to say, 'What about everything I won? What about the Premier League win?'.

"I think even the PDC have been concerned for my mental health but I assured them I was absolutely fine. But the champion inside me, I was obviously incredibly disappointed at the way things had gone.

"I'm proud I didn't run away. I remained professional throughout. I was in a very privileged position but they were very, very difficult times.

"I've had sympathy from players but that's not what I wanted, I was begging for the days where players were calling me a slow elephant and whatever else again.

"I didn't want to be remembered as the player who fell of a cliff. I didn't want to finish on a low. I just want to enjoy myself again and learn to win.

"The seniors is an opportunity to play some legends of the game. If I can just learn to win again, I'm still only 52, I feel fit, healthy, I have a good life. That's the route I've chosen for 2023."

That Durrant isn't retiring and is committed to the Seniors next year - and who knows beyond that - is because he still sees glimpses of the player he knows he can be. Only a couple of weeks ago he averaged more than 100 to beat Phil Taylor in an exhibition in Germany.

"I wouldn't be putting myself through this if I didn't think I could get some form back," he says.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't think I can go and win the World Seniors today, but it's February so I have a few months of preparation.

"It would be nice if I could build up some form and momentum.

"That game against Phil showed what I can do. There's that hope that that feeling comes back to me. And winning games again and what comes with that, the relaxation of the arm, releasing the tension and the nerves in your body, which I think is half the battle."

If next year goes to plan, if he does rediscover his form, then what? Could he make an appearance at 2024 Q-School and attempt to win back his PDC tour card?

He says: "It hurts what I've been through. You can only take so many beatings.

"I'm excited about next year, I have a lot going on. I have some commentary opportunities as well as the seniors.

"I'm really excited for all those opportunities. Darts might just become a hobby again.

"I'm not going to run before I can walk. The focus right now is getting back competitive again and showing some glimpses of what I can do. If I start playing as well as I did before I wouldn't be afraid to go to Q-School again, but that does feel a long way off at the minute.

"My focus is on enjoying my darts again, hopefully learning to win again and go from there."