Price admits World Championship uncertainty as he considers ear defenders again

12 January 2023 , 19:19

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Gerwyn Price wearing ear defenders during his match against Gabriel Clemens (Image: PA)

Gerwyn Price has refused to rule out wearing ear defenders again at the oche as his PDC World Championship future remains unclear.

'The Iceman' went into the tournament as the reigning world No 1, but ironically, seemingly melted amid the heat at the Ally Pally as he crashed out in the quarter finals to Gabriel Clemens. The 2020 champion was way below par as he lost 5-1, but it wasn't his form that hit the headlines afterwards.

The Welshman has long been cast in the role of pantomime villain in his sport, having to endure jeers from crowds. And when 2-1 down to Clemens, the booing rattled him to the point that he came out for the fourth set in ear defenders.

Michael van Gerwen was one high-profile star to criticise the stunt, arguing crowd noise was part of the game. And ahead of this week's Bahrain Masters, Price was non-committal about a return to the biggest event in darts in 12 months time.

"Obviously it was disappointing going out at the quarter-finals for the last two years," he told BBC Wales. "If I'd been given a fair crack and fair opportunity in those games the results could have been a lot different. If I'm going to go out of the tournament in the quarter-finals or last 16 it's pointless me even turning up."

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The 37-year-old even implied that a successful 2023 could make him less likely to rock up at the Ally Pally, adding: "So if I can do well all year, and if I can win a couple of majors, then I don't have to go, you never know."

Price leaves the stage holding his ear-defenders after his Ally Pally defeat (PA)

Price did poke fun at himself this week as he flew to the Middle East, uploading an Instagram picture of himself with new ear defenders. But despite the furore, he's hinted at repeating such behaviour in future matches: "It gets me focused and sort of drowns out any minute noises around you, like one or two people shouting out or a few boos or whistles when you're going at doubles," he added.

"But when I did put them on, the whole crowd starts, so it was totally the opposite to what I wanted to happen. I'm not saying I'll never use them again but hopefully the crowd will just understand I need them for my focus, I need them for my game when those individuals are not giving me a fair crack."

It has proved a tempestuous few weeks for the former pro rugby player. After beating Jose de Sousa in his last 16 match at the World Championship, he made a gesture towards the crowd that appeared to mock disabled people, and later apologised for "any distress caused."

Fraser Watson