"I felt like my head was going to blow off": Gerwyn Price keeps lid on emotion during fiery Daryl Gurney clash

Gerwyn Price admitted he had to battle not only his opponent but himself during his opening win at the 2025 World Matchplay — revealing that emotional control was key to surviving a tough encounter as he spoke to the media including DartsNews.

Asked if he felt he was now a more emotionally intelligent competitor than in the past, Price didn’t hesitate as he has learned as of late to stem the celebrations and it is working.

“Definitely. If it was five, six, seven years ago, that game probably could have got away from me. I’ve learned to try and keep my emotions intact at key points. I did today. There were two or three legs where I felt like my head was going to blow off — but I just had to keep it in," said Price.

“I thought I was struggling throughout the game,” Price continued. “But I came off and saw the stats and I averaged around 100, which is decent. I felt like I was pretty poor in patches and didn’t play particularly well. There’s a lot more in the tank.”

While the numbers suggest a solid showing, Price felt his performance lacked spark especially late on, where he appeared uncharacteristically subdued.

“I just felt like I needed to keep myself composed. Sometimes I’m forcing not to let my emotions get the best of me, and sometimes that’s what happens. I can let out the emotions, and then the next leg’s not so good. So sometimes I try and control that — and I did in that game.”

It was all part of a conscious effort to keep a lid on things — something Price believes helped him over the line.

“I think possibly that’s what got me over the winning line — just trying to keep everything intact and then let it go at the end.”

And when that release finally came, it was the product of several legs’ worth of internal frustration and in his view keeping Gurney in a game he wasn't in.. “Yeah, I think I did [hold it in] — for a lot of legs. I was beating myself up, missing opportunities. I’d hit a big score and then throw absolute rubbish. It just sort of kept him in the game.”

The match’s defining moment came with a 150 checkout that broke his opponent’s throw and saw him ascend. “I went to the table and I felt like the 150 was going out — and it did. I was like, yeah, just give myself a kick up the backside. Just break him and get the match done and I did.”

That control has been matched in recent weeks by high-level results, with Price in red-hot form heading into Blackpool. “Possibly [this is] the best I’ve felt in the last two or three years. But in 2021–22, I think I was in a bit better form and a bit more confident. That’s going to come back hopefully over the next couple of weeks.”

“I’m playing well. I averaged 100 today and felt like it was an 85 or 90. I didn’t think I’d performed. But there’s a lot more in the tank, which is good. I’ve got a hell of a lot more to give in this tournament. Getting through the first round is always tough for me — and once I do, then I’m dangerous.”

While Luke Humphries’ early exit grabbed headlines, Price insisted he’s focused only on his own path. “To be honest with you, I really don’t care about the other players — whether they’re in or out. I don’t play all of them. I can only play four or five games in this tournament, so I just concentrate on my game and getting through my rounds. If I get to the final, then happy days. Once I’m there, I’ve got a chance of winning and lifting the trophy.”

“There’s so many good players in this tournament — whether they’re in the top 16 in the world or top 16 in the ProTour — it’s going to be really tough.”

Recent success on the World Series and Euro Tour has also served to sharpen Price’s belief. “It’s nice to win tournaments leading up to any major. To win a World Series — which probably isn’t a major — or a European, they’re still two good tournaments to win. They give you a bit of confidence coming into a major, which is nice. I’m full of confidence.”

“Maybe if I didn’t win those two leading into this, would I have come through that game? But I stuck in there right till the end. Even though I led, I still didn’t feel like the game was won until the last dart. Those tournaments I’ve won leading up to this probably got me through.”

His renewed positivity, Price said, began earlier this year with a shift in attitude during the Premier League. “I enjoyed it more than any other year I’ve played in it. That’s probably just being a bit more positive and looking forward to playing, rather than being down on myself.”

“Once the Premier League is over, it is a lot easier. You don’t have to travel every week and be home one day a week. Once that was done, I found my feet and got a bit more form.”

“I’ve done well on the ProTours. Going into Holland, winning there, then going up to Kiel and winning that one. It’s probably because I’m playing a bit more as well. When the Premier League’s on, I tend to miss stuff because it’s busy.”

Looking ahead, Price’s schedule will depend on his progress in Blackpool — but a trophy and a week off would suit him just fine. “It depends how I do. If I win or go deep this week, then I don’t go to the ProTours next week. If I don’t win, then maybe I go. I’d happily win this and take a week off — go to Tenerife for a couple of days instead of Germany and the ProTours. Fingers crossed I can win this one and chill out in the sun.”

The support of the crowd — something once rarely guaranteed for Price — is also something he now embraces. “You do get the odd boos still, but over the last 12, 18 months — maybe two years — especially in Germany, and now a lot more in England, the crowd’s been on my side. It does help. Rather than people booing you or putting you off, when they’re behind you in key points of matches, it definitely helps. It gets you over the line sometimes. I think it did today.”