Luke Littler has delivered a pointed response to Gerwyn Price following their nail-biting World Grand Prix Darts quarter-final. The Welsh player had surged into a commanding two-set lead, only to crumble in the decisive leg as Littler produced a magnificent 152 finish to seal a remarkable fightback.
The youngster was clearly agitated by his sluggish start and has now disclosed precisely what was going through his mind when Price appeared destined for the semi-finals. “I just said that it’s now or never – you have to switch on, find those trebles and not stay on the wire for the entire match,” he confessed to Sky Sports.
“I switched up, started going for double 16s and it worked in parts. Double 16 is the one that got me the World Championship and it’s always there to be hit.”
Littler has subsequently offered another assessment through social media with a direct response to Price following their absolutely captivating encounter.
He posted on Instagram: “Wow what a game that was fought hard from 2-0 down fair play to @gerwynpriceiceman180 definitely made me dig deep there, we focus onto tomorrow against jonny.”
Before that, Price had shared his own message, seemingly directed at the PDC.
Following the loss, he posted on Instagram: “Wow gutted!
“This is why we need to play majors in neutral venues/countries. Luke was great in patches at the right time in the end, but I lost that one again.”
Price has previously expressed his belief in the importance of hosting major darts tournaments in various countries, given the sport’s increasing global popularity.
Back in 2023, he said: “I think it’s only right. That’s what happens with other sports. You should have equal rights that the tournament goes to different parts of the world. And then I think I’ll have a bit of a better chance of winning!
“Germany is becoming a huge market for the PDC and darts is growing immensely all over Europe. Maybe move it to Germany, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Belgium.
“I don’t see any reason why they can’t do it. I know they have the history with Ally Pally, but times move on, things change. It used to be at the Circus Tavern years ago and they moved on from that.
“With the way the game is going, and the strength-in-depth in every country, in all corners of the world, the tournament needs to have a new home now and again. Maybe you could have it two years in London, two years in Holland, two years in Germany, then two years in Wales.”
