Darts star Gerwyn Price admits he was about to blow amid World Matchplay bust-up clash

Daily Record

3 days ago

The former world champion conceded he had to keep his emotions in check before the feisty end to the match
Gerwyn Price reckons his head was going to blow off in stages of his bust-up clash with Daryl Gurney.
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The Iceman and his Northern Irish darts rival had a feisty exchange at the end of their first-round clash in Blackpool.
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Price and Gurney had a tasty confrontation at the finale of the Welshman's win and, although not speaking specifically about the dust-up, the former world champion admitted afterwards he was having to keep emotions in check during the contest.
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He said: 'I just felt like I needed to keep myself composed. I was forcing not to let my emotions get the best of me and sometimes that's what happens. I can let out the emotions and then the next leg's not so good, so sometimes I try and control it and I did in that game.
"I think possibly that's what got me over the winning line is just trying to keep everything intact and then let it go at the end.
'I was beating myself up, missing opportunities. I'd hit a big score one and then I'd hit absolute rubbish, it just sort of kept him in the game.
'I know if it was five, six, seven years ago that game probably could have gotten away from me, but I've learned to just try and keep my emotions intact at key points sometimes and I did.
"I think in two or three legs where, yeah, my head was gonna blow off, but I just had to keep it in.'
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Price is a huge contender for the title and faces Chris Dobey next. Asked if it would take something special to knock him out, the Welsh ace replied: 'I wouldn't say something special, I'm playing well, but there's a lot more in the tank which is good and I feel like I've got a helluva lot more to give in this tournament.
'Getting through the first round is always tough for me and, once I do, then I'm dangerous. So I think it's a good tournament for me now.'
Dobey beat Price at the World Championships at the start of the year, but he dismissed notions of revenge as he said: 'I actually forgot about that one, so thanks! No, Chris is a great player, I've played him numerous times since then, Premier League, Pro Tours, Europeans. He can turn up just as good as the rest of us and I know he's going to, everyone seems to turn up against me so I'm ready for it.'
Price is a fans' favourite at Blackpool in changed days from his pantomime villain times and he said: 'You do get odd boos here, but over the last 12 or 18 months maybe two years, especially in Germany, a lot more in England now, which is nice and the crowd's always on my side and it does help rather than people booing you or putting you off when they're right behind you in key points of matches. It definitely helps and gets you over the line sometimes.'