Progress was deliberate. Floor titles. Deeper televised runs. Signs of a player beginning to understand his own powers. A run to the quarter-finals of the World Championship announced his arrival among the elite, and months later he lifted the World Grand Prix trophy in Dublin, becoming the first Northern Irishman to win a televised PDC major. The nickname Superchin suddenly carried weight beyond humour. It stood for durability under fire.

A second major title followed at the Players Championship Finals in 2018, where he defeated Michael van Gerwen in a high-pressure final that demanded nerve and precision in equal measure. By 2019, Gurney had climbed to world number three. Not through noise. Through output.

His game is built on heavy scoring bursts, fearless finishing and a refusal to step back when matches tighten. Yet beneath the intensity is a grounded competitor who understands the privilege of representing Northern Ireland on the global stage. From local leagues to lifting major silverware and winning the World Cup for his country, Gurney’s journey reads less like overnight success and more like a blueprint for sustained ascent.