This article was originally published on Darts Planet TV’s writing platform. Click here to view the piece on their website.
It was January 2014 and Michael van Gerwen lifted his maiden world title to secure an initial stint at the pinnacle of planet darts. A mere two weeks later, the heir to his throne would emerge in a rather different environment.
His successor would arrive by the name of Gerwyn Price – a Welsh ex-professional rugby player from Markham who was urged to attend PDC Qualifying School by former professional and compatriot Barrie Bates.
As Dutchman Van Gerwen reached the sport’s summit at the tender age of 24, Price’s remarkable rise commenced. Nevertheless, nobody would foresee his courageous climb up the darting ladder.
Since earning his professional status just seven years ago, the determined Price has been labelled almost everything under the sun. From ‘nobody’ jibes from Adrian Lewis to being painted as the pantomime villain, the 35-year-old Welshman now owns the tag everybody wants.
His extraordinary journey to world number one began with a hard-fought victory over Austrian youngster Rowby-John Rodriguez – which secured his professional status for a minimum of two years.
As expected when it comes to a newbie on the PDC circuit, the main accomplishment within those two years for Price was to reach the world’s top 64 and therefore keep that tour card under his belt. Although much more than that would follow.
Staggeringly, a proficient Price reached six ranking quarter-finals during his opening two seasons amongst the world’s elite, securing debuts at the sport’s two most prestigious stagings in the World Championship and World Matchplay.
Scotsman Peter Wright would whitewash the Welshman on his Alexandra Palace debut, but Price’s moment in the darting spotlight soon arrived. He stunned both Michael Smith and Adrian Lewis to reach the World Matchplay quarter-finals.
Price’s animation on the oche became evident as he showcased a scintillating showing, hitting eight maximums and a 97.88 average to oust two-time world champion Lewis in a Blackpool classic. However, a fierce sequel was contested twelve months down the line, with words exchanged between the two beforehand.
“He’s a big mouth who’s never won anything and never will win anything as he’s got no respect for anyone,” expressed Lewis. It was the multiple-time major champion who prevailed, though since then, ‘Jackpot’ has declined while Price has excelled.
As ‘The Iceman’ exceeded three years on the professional scene, he soon found himself in a televised final. It was the UK Open at Butlin’s Minehead Resort – a tournament known for its uniqueness, diversity and in 2017 for gifting Peter Wright a maiden major crown.
Having defeated Price on his Alexandra Palace debut and in his maiden televised quarter-final, it was only right for ‘Snakebite’ to run out victorious in the Welshman’s initial major final also.
Price was now a member of the world’s elite. He had quite literally progressed from the gruelling intensity of Wigan’s Q School to the glitz and glamour of the Premier League and World Series of Darts, held across the world.
From Dubai to Shanghai to Las Vegas, it was Price’s deserved attempt to showcase his excellence to a wider audience. Although onlookers worldwide would soon become accustomed to darts’ developing sensation lifting trophies aloft.
‘The Iceman’ secured a maiden European Tour success in October of three years ago, overcoming Simon Whitlock in the final. And, the Australian was an opponent of Price on another occasion at the forthcoming Grand Slam of Darts.
Former world finalist Whitlock was the only man to get the better of Price during his breakthrough Grand Slam campaign in 2018, but the Welshman avenged that loss with a thrilling quarter-final triumph.
Days down the line, Price was pictured holding the prestigious Eric Bristow Trophy in the midst of a chorus of boos in the West Midlands, having toppled Gary Anderson from behind in an ill-mannered final.
From there, the Markham man was known as the pantomime villain until later regaining the respect of spectators at the very same venue, overcoming both Van Gerwen and Wright en route to defending his Grand Slam crown in fantastic fashion.
Price remained unbeaten at Wolverhampton’s Aldersley Leisure Village, but London’s iconic Alexandra Palace subsequently continued to prove a tricky stomping ground for him, with eventual champion Wright avenging his previous loss in the 2020 World Championship semi-finals.
Undeterred, Price’s most lucrative season of soon commenced. Two titles were added to his growing honours tally, including the inaugural Belgian Darts Championship in Hasselt. Moreover, a second appearance in the UK Open final occurred.
A rampant Van Gerwen would reign triumphant in Minehead, though, following the sport’s four-month shutdown due to restrictions imposed across the continent, the world number one’s standards slipped.
As professional darts adapted to the behind closed doors atmosphere, Price originally struggled and became openly frustrated by the lack of crowds. Turning a corner was crucial. And, fortunately for the Welshman, that watershed moment transpired.
In spite of failing to qualify for the Play-Offs, frequent Premier League fixtures helped Price to settle in the deserted environment, before televised triumphs materialised at the World Series of Darts Finals and World Grand Prix respectively.
Those accolades were both eclipsed in the eyes of Price weeks later as the proud Welshman led his country to World Cup of Darts glory alongside Jonny Clayton. It was a momentous occasion for the prolific pairing and Welsh darts as a whole.
“I’ve won a couple of majors but to win this with Jonny is the proudest moment of my darting career,” Price said. “Hitting that winning double and the emotions outweigh every trophy I’ve won, even playing rugby and winning trophies there, it feels extra special today.”
Despite marginally tailing off in the midst of a gruelling start to the winter months, ‘The Iceman’ topped the year-to-date rankings and was one of the front runners heading into his seventh World Championship appearance.
He was forced to come through three deciding set thrillers on his way to the semi-finals, before dealing with a resurgent Stephen Bunting to set up a mouth-watering finale against enemy Anderson.
Squandered attempts at crucial moments from the Scotsman opened the door for his opponent in the early exchanges. A relentless Price soon began to storm to victory, eventually leading by four sets, with Anderson’s hopes drifting away.
Price narrowly missed double twelve for a nine-dart finish – what would have been the first in a world final for a decade – and registered a record-breaking set average of 136.64. It was an utterly magnificent display from the budding world champion.
There was a wavering wobble as he neared the finishing line. Although Price was soon under the spotlight in the epicentre of the eerily deserted Alexandra Palace auditorium, setting his sights on the iconic trophy, before lifting it aloft with a great deal of jubilation.
The elusive world number one spot now belongs to a warranted Welshman. And, should he shine under the tag as much as his predecessor, the chasing pack should beware.
