"In a way they've gone backwards": Gerwyn Price spots glaring error in PDC World Darts Championship prize money increase

Gerwyn Price spoke candidly after his 6–2 victory over Max Hopp in the opening round of the 2025 Players Championship Finals, touching on prize money, his performance, and preparation for the upcoming World Championship.

Price averaged just 90 as he saw off Max Hopp without hitting a single maximum but being top seed and one of the favourites soon enough for the PDC World Darts Championship, he was asked about the carrot being dangled of £1million for the winner and how in his view it isn't 100% a good thing.

Speaking at the Players Championship Finals, Price admitted that the payout structure needs to be improved so the lesser stars get more money as in his view they've gone backwards instead of forwards as now more games are needed to win more also with the format going from 96 to 128 players.

“I said yesterday that you actually get less for winning seven games this year than you did last year,” Price revealed when asked about playing twice before Christmas post Hopp win. “If you win seven games this year, you get £400,000. Last year, you would have got £500,000. So, you’ve got to win an extra game for another £600,000. I know it’s a bigger prize at the end, but in a way, they’ve gone backwards. I think they need to restructure how they do the payouts — and every other tournament as well.”

Price confirmed he does not plan to watch the World Championship draw live. “Honestly, I’m busy doing stuff. I like to keep myself busy. I’m building an annex on the back of my dad’s place, in and out of there, in and out of the chippy, doing bits and pieces. I didn’t even know the draw was on until my brother rang me.” He added: “I will watch the draw. Hopefully I get a half-decent run, which doesn’t usually happen, and then I’ll just practise as well as I can and give it my all.”

Turning to his first-round performance, Price admitted the game was frustrating. “Not all the time was I in control. I’m practising so well, and then when you get out on stage, I kept clipping the top and bottom wire — top wire on the treble 20, bottom wire on the treble 19. When I’m practising, it’s 180, 140, 180, 140. You get up there and it’s frustrating.”

Despite Max Hopp starting strong, Price held his nerve to claim the win. “Max started off fantastic — 180, 140 in the first leg — and he broke me. I probably could’ve got it back to 4–3, but he missed a couple of doubles, but so did I. It’s one of those first-round games you just want to get through. I’m a little bit gutted I didn’t perform as well as I wanted to, but a win’s more important than anything.”

Price was also asked whether he uses early-round matches to send a statement to his competitors. He was unequivocal: “No, it’s nothing to do with anybody else — just for myself. Not so much averages, but if I feel like I’ve played well and taken my chances and scored well… but today it was mediocre. I was up and down, missed loads of doubles, and just fell over the line. Sometimes first rounds go like that and I get better and better — and I need to.”

As the top seed, Price said he is accustomed to the expectations. “I’ve been world number one, world champion, number one on the ProTour and European Tour before, and I’ve come here as number one before. So I’m used to that. There’s no added pressure, only probably from myself where I want to perform and meet the standards I set. A little bit frustrated with my game, but today I won — that’s what matters.”

On the question of whether he feels frustration at not converting good seasons into major titles, Price was candid: “Yes especially with the way I turned up today. I started practising and just felt like I couldn’t miss. I’m up on the practice board and it’s easier said than done, but you need to take that onto the main stage. Sometimes on the ProTours it happens, but today was really frustrating.”

Price also commented on the stage conditions at Minehead, known for being cold. “No. It usually is, but Max came off and said, ‘Did you feel a breeze?’ but I didn’t. I’d seen his darts going in a little awkward early on, even though they were going in the treble 20. I said to him it looked like they were going in on an angle, but they were still in the treble, so don’t worry about it. Today the practice room was probably too hot really maybe they over-compensated but it was nice and comfortable. On stage it was perfect.”

Reflecting on his recent Grand Slam semi-final, Price acknowledged both positives and frustrations. “Yes, it was positive. But it just feels like since Wolverhampton… A couple of days ago I was in the house for a day or two doing work around the place, and then bang — we’re off again. There’s no rest for the wicked. I’m back down here and back into the swing of things. Fingers crossed I can get back into the groove and hopefully play better than I did in the semi-final. I wasn’t good enough and that’s why I lost.”

When asked about the packed schedule of events leading up to Christmas, Price explained that it has both benefits and drawbacks. “It can work both ways. If you’re in good form, you just want to keep playing and playing. If you’re playing rubbish, you’re thinking, ‘I need a break.’ At the minute I don’t mind them coming thick and fast because I feel like I’m playing well. I feel confident — but like I said, it depends on the mindset and the way you’re playing.”

Finally, Price addressed how a good performance at the Players Championship Finals impacts his World Championship mindset. “Obviously it’s good for confidence, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Even after this weekend, Monday, it’s probably two weeks off before you play again, so it’s a reset. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose — it’s a boost of confidence and good ranking points if you win this, but the Worlds is a completely different animal. You prepare for that differently and the mindset’s different. Once this one’s done, it’s a reset.”