It’s fair to say that the “Iceman” Gerwyn
Price has had a difficult relationship with the darting public over the years,
with his aggressive on-stage style during play and reactions to crowds making
him the pantomime villain on the PDC Tour.
Many of his detractors would have welcomed
Price’s dip in form last year, with the Welshman eventually deciding to take a
break, which nearly saw him quit. However, he returned with a quarter-final run
in the 2025 World Championship and has since won several PDC events, plus three
victories in the Darts Premier League, which helped him reach the finals night
at the O2 in London, where he was beaten by Luke Littler in the semi-final.
So what makes the Welshman tick?
In a recent interview, Price spoke to Del
Pugh from
BookiesBonuses.com
about his change in mindset, his affinity with the World Series of Darts,
dealing with the boo-boys and his favourite darting venue.
Q:
In interviews, you referenced a "reset" at the end of last year, and
this adjustment has helped you win a handful of titles so far this year. What
has changed? Mindset? Routine? Or something else?
A: "No, no, it's just definitely
mindset, you know, I'm a lot more positive and not so down on myself when I
lose. Now, I think to myself that I can't dwell too much on the past, and I
just have to look forward to the next match, as I can only control the future.
"So, you know, once I've lost the
game, yeah, I still get upset and beat myself up for a good hour or so, maybe
two, and then just move on.”
"I get disappointed when I lose, and I
absolutely hate losing. But once it's done, it’s done, and I just focus on the
next one and, yeah, I start feeling a little bit more positive again, which I
feel has definitely helped me personally”.
Q:
You won the Nordic Masters last year and seem to have quite an affinity with
the World Series of Darts in general, reaching eight finals and winning three
since 2022. Is there something special about these global events that appeals
and spurs you on?
"The majority of the time when I'm away and in the
World Series events, I have my family and my kids with me, and I'm probably a
lot happier for that.”
"I'm also probably in the sun somewhere, or it's just
a different environment, but I'm not sure.
"I didn't even know that I do so well in those events
until now, so It must be something to do with being away from home, in the sun,
or just having the family with me, as I said"
Q:
Onstage, you have quite a competitive persona. How difficult is it to balance
the need for darting control ahead of emotions during a match, whether you are
winning or losing?
“I just think it comes with experience and
putting yourself in those situations, week after week, and, you know, the more
you play in those conditions and situations, you just get better and better.”
"Sometimes it's not nice when you get
the odd whistles and stuff like that, it can definitely put you off and not
just you, but also put your opponent off as well and can spoil games, but most
situations you can deal with."
Q:
What’s your favourite darts venue to play in?
"For me, I think the Matchplay. I've lost in a final
there, but I just love being in Blackpool. I love playing in the Winter
Gardens. It's a smaller crowd. It's more intimate with the crowd right on you,
and I think it's a great atmosphere with true darting fans”
"You get venues which are a little bit too big and
not everyone in there are darts fans, they're just there for the atmosphere,
which is good as they get to enjoy themselves too, but you do get true darts
fans in the Matchplay at the venue, and I just love Blackpool as well, plus, I
get my family there that week with me as well, which is good."