Darryl Pilgrim secured his first European Tour win of 2026 with a 6-4 victory over Dave Chisnall in the first round of the Poland Darts Open, but his intense focus nearly caused some pre-match mishaps. Pilgrim admitted to being so locked in that he forgot to shake hands before the match, forcing him to walk back and complete the customary greetings. He revealed this wasn't the first time his concentration led to awkwardness, recalling, "The very first time I played, three or four years ago, I even missed my wife on the way up. I was that focused on the game, just to get up there and play, because sometimes things can distract you."
The match itself turned dramatic in the closing stages, with Pilgrim expecting a deciding leg when Chisnall had multiple chances on a double while Pilgrim was still on nearly 200. "When he first left the double and I was still on nearly 200, I was getting ready for the last leg," Pilgrim said. "I thought, 'Right, I've got the throw in the last leg, save it for then.'" However, Chisnall kept missing, and Pilgrim eventually clinched the win, admitting, "He kept missing and it almost affected me as well. It was just one of those legs. I'm just glad I finally got the double."
Reflecting on facing experienced opponents like Chisnall, Pilgrim emphasized the mental challenge: "It's hard sometimes not to play the player, you just want to play the board. But as much as you try, it can get in the back of your mind. Once you switch that off, you feel a lot better." He noted the difference since becoming a full-time Tour Card holder, saying, "Oh yeah, it definitely feels a lot different. When you're back as an amateur, you're just playing for the love of the game. When it's your job, it almost puts a bit more pressure on you."
Despite the nervy finish, Pilgrim is optimistic about his form, stating, "Apart from that nervous end, I've already felt a lot better this year, as you can see on the ProTour and some of the stuff I threw the other day in the qualifiers and obviously qualifying for this. It's just the odd game at the moment, but I'm nearly there. I feel like I'll be back to my best very, very soon." He highlighted the importance of European Tours for rankings and World Championship qualification, adding, "Yeah, 100 per cent. These Euro Tours are so crucial as a Tour Card holder when you're down towards that end because they make a difference qualifying for the Worlds, qualifying for your rankings. They definitely make a difference. So I'm definitely ready for a nice run."
Off the oche, Pilgrim expressed delight at competing in Poland, saying, "When I qualified for Poland, I was well happy. I've always wanted to visit Poland, so I was well happy to come." He hasn't had time to explore yet but mentioned interest in trying pierogi, a local dish. For now, his preparation remains simple: "I'll just have something to eat and go back to the room, chill out and then get ready for tomorrow. That'll be about it, to be honest." With his tunnel vision intact, Pilgrim is focused on making deeper runs in future events.
