Gerwyn Price says he might opt against taking part in next year’s Premier League.
The 2021 world champion has featured in each of the last five editions of the competition and will no doubt hope to be invited back next year.
Price to wait and see
However, ‘the Iceman’ hasn’t ruled out taking a year off in 2027, largely owing to the fact he’s set to become a grandfather.
“Possibly. That [skipping the Premier League] could be on the cards,” he told reporters after beating Gian van Veen 17-10 to reach the final of the World Matchplay.
“My daughter is pregnant and she’s due at the end of January. I’ve got other priorities and things going on at home, so I could miss the Premier League if I’m invited. We’ll see what happens later in the season.”
Price made it to the semi-finals of the Premier League for the second year running this time around, narrowly losing out to two-time reigning world champion Luke Littler.
However, the Welshman was critical of the competition’s current format.
Posting on Facebook, he wrote: “Back to the old format of 10 players all playing one game per night. After nine weeks the bottom two drop out like in previous years and we go into the format of the last few years. Eight players into a quarter-final and play down to a winner.”
‘Who cares? I’m in the final’
Sunday’s World Matchplay final will be Price’s first shot at claiming a major individual title since he won the 2023 World Grand Prix.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT following his victory over Van Veen, the 41-year-old admitted he hadn’t been at his best but was delighted to be in the final.
“I probably had a little bit more pressure in that game than any other game in this tournament,” he said.
“Usually, the first round is the one that gets you going and puts the most pressure on you – but I knew if I won this one, I’m back in the top four in the world and take over my fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton to get Wales’ number one spot back.
“And I’m happy to do that, but… performance wasn’t good, but who cares? I’m in the final.”
Price will meet holder Luke Littler in Sunday’s final in Blackpool.
2
It will be Price’s second appearance in the final of the World Matchplay after 2022, when he lost 18-14 to Michael van Gerwen.
And he doesn’t seem to fear Littler, as typically superb as ‘the Nuke’ has been of late.
“I think there’s a lot of players that can get to that [Littler’s] level,” Price said after his quarter-final victory over Ross Smith.
“Is there anyone who can do it as long as him? I think I can and I think there’s a couple of players, but he’s ruthless at the minute – these 109, 110 averages just look so easy for him.”
“I think some players play into his hand and just let him play with his rhythm.”
Littler hammered Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 to become the first player in darts history to rack up £3m in prize money.
