Gerwyn Price returns to Alexandra Palace in search of further darts glory and if it were up to him it would be the final time.
The former rugby player caused a stir by claiming he has no issue with the World Darts Championship being relocated to Saudi Arabia.
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Price proved too strong for two-time champion Anderson to get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy in 2021Credit: GETTY
‘The Iceman’, who won the tournament in 2021, is no stranger to getting on the wrong side of the Ally Pally crowd.
In fact, Price has previously suggested he can’t replicate his behind-closed-doors triumph at the worlds until there’s a change of venue.
The Welshman is often painted as the pantomime villain at darts tournaments but jeers have turned to abuse on several occasions.
Price resorted to bringing industrial headphones to block out the noise in recent years and even threatened to boycott the event.
His troubles recently sparked questions over his future having finished second-bottom in the Premier League.
He failed to feature in the Grand Slam of Darts for the first time since 2015 and hasn’t reached the final of any TV event over the last year.
However, Price ended retirement speculation on social media with a post that said: “Unfortunately for some, you’re all stuck with me.”
It was the type of resilience and application he was accused of lacking during his first attempts to become a sporting superstar.
Price was a semi-professional rugby player who played as a hooker for Cross Keys and even signed for Pro14 outfit Glasgow Warriors in 2013.
“It didn’t really work out with me professionally in rugby. I was only with Glasgow for a couple of weeks on loan and I was only playing Premiership semi-professional,” Price said in 2014.
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Price resorted to wearing headphones at the 2023 tournamentCredit: Getty
That verdict starkly contrasted the opinion of Wales legend Mark Ring, who believes he was good enough to play for the British and Irish Lions.
Ring told Wales Online: “He had international class stamped over him as a rugby player, could definitely have gone on to play for Wales and the Lions if he’d perhaps applied himself a little sooner.
“In my view he could have been right up there with Ken Owens – and that’s saying something because I really rate Ken, probably as the best hooker in the northern hemisphere.”
Price’s highlights included scoring a try at the Millennium Stadium to help Cross Keys beat Pontypridd 32-19 in the 2012 SWALEC Cup final.
Former Keys coach Greg Woods said after the match: “I think every region is interested in Gerwyn. He should be playing professional rugby.
“We, at Keys, pride ourselves on being a good stable for Gwent rugby. Gerwyn and Lewis Rawlins are the next two ready for regional level.”
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Price has been abused by the Ally Pally crowd throughout his careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
For Price a different career awaited that has his face plastered on camera, still baring the marks from an attack outside of rugby that had threatened his life.
The 39-year-old needed a total of 47 facial stitches to repair wounds inflicted during an attack outside a pub in Bargoed in 2010.
Price, who was playing for Premiership team Neath at the time, was taken to hospital after a single blow floored him.
The future darts ace suffered a brain haemorrhage and had nerve damage to an eyebrow after smashing his head against the curb.
Luke Littler and Danny Murphy takes on Gerwyn Price and Dean Saunders at darts at Principality Stadium, Cardiff live on White & Jordan
He also required 42 stitches to his forehead and five to his chin – with his attacker Owen Body being jailed for 12 months.
Judge Philip Richards told him: “This was serious violence and it has serious consequences.
“Such an incident could have led to death and a charge of murder. Mercifully, that didn’t happen, but you should reflect upon it.”
Over a decade later, Price finally lifted the lid on the incident which put him down a dark part before he turned his life around.
“Whenever I used to go out, for some reason I used to attract trouble or attention from the wrong people,” he said on ITV’s Against The Odds documentary.
“I think I used to be a terror for my mam and dad, bless them, but that’s when I was young and immature.
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Price is keen on the World Dart Championships to move around EuropeCredit: Getty
“There was one time in Bargoed, there was an altercation with two boys outside the pub, and one of them caught me from the side when I was talking to his mate, and I fell, cut my face and I think I caught my head on a kerb, so I think that was quite lucky.”
Pointing to a different scar on his face, Price added: “This was from when I was out in Blackwood, I was only 17 years of age so I wasn’t supposed to be out drinking.
“I can remember speaking to a boy out in a bar, and, out of the blue, for no reason, he pushes a pint glass in my face.
“I can’t be doing with this hassle any more. I’d rather just have an easy life. I have kids. I had to settle down, and you change a little bit. I have changed for the better.”
Now it’s down to the Ally Pally crowd to prove they have as well…
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