Gerwyn Price has launched a scathing attack on the World Grand Prix crowd following his heartbreaking defeat to Luke Littler, demanding that major tournaments ‘need to be played in neutral venues’. The Welsh arrows ace suffered a devastating blow in the deciding leg of the final set, crashing out 3-2 to the world champion in Leicester.
Both Price and Littler struggled with their finishing, particularly on the doubles which proved crucial in the format. Nevertheless, the pair’s dramatic highs, crushing lows and unmistakable showmanship combined to produce one of the most thrilling encounters in Grand Prix history.
Price squandered three match darts before Littler sealed victory with a brilliant 152 checkout in the final set, sending the Leicester Arena crowd into raptures.
Following the contest, both players shared a moment of mutual respect, staring at each other before bursting into laughter and embracing – acknowledging they had been part of something truly special.
But Price’s mood shifted dramatically when facing the hostile crowd, who had relentlessly jeered and taunted him throughout his doubling struggles.
Upon returning home, he vented his frustration on Instagram, criticising both the spectators and the PDC’s tendency to stage major ranking events predominantly in England.
Price 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, often seen as the villain in English darts competitions, has frequently found himself distracted by crowd jeers. The former world champion, known for his exuberant “come on” shouts after winning legs, secured his sole World Championship victory in 2021 at a spectator-less Alexandra Palace due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In late 2023, Price suggested that darts should follow football’s lead and rotate major tournaments like the World Championship between different countries each year. He stated: “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.”
Price might be rooting for his World Cup of Darts partner and close mate, Johnny Clayton, to triumph over Littler in the semi-final clash on Saturday. Clayton breezed past Dirk van Duijvenbode with a 3-0 victory to secure his spot in the final four, while Luke Humphries is set to face Danny Noppert in the other semi-final following their victories on Friday evening.
