"It's probably one of the most comfortable nights that I felt": Bullish, in control and message sent to Clayton for Price in Manchester

After an impressive Premier League Darts night, Gerwyn Price has once again left his mark on the tournament. The Welshman claimed his second nightly win of the season, moving up to second place in the standings. Yet The Iceman is not only satisfied, he also casts a critical eye over his performances in recent weeks.

Price looked relaxed and assured after the ninth night of the Premier League Darts, an evening in which he was rarely troubled. “Yeah, it should have been my third win, should have. I let Dublin 1 get away, but yeah, it's nice to get some points on the board and a bonus with a win and five points,” he reflected.

What stood out most was the sense of control Price had throughout his matches. While the Premier League Darts is known for its volatility and the high standard across the field, the former world champion appeared hardly under pressure. “Yeah, it's probably one of the most comfortable nights that I felt. Even though every player played really well against me, I just felt like I kept myself in the zone,” he admitted.

That “zone” Price refers to is exactly where the difference is made at the highest level. His scoring power was impressive, but his efficiency on the doubles stood out most. Not only did he close out his legs solidly, he also produced regular high checkouts at key moments. “I was scoring well, taking out my doubles—not just hitting doubles, but taking out some decent checkouts as well when they're in front of me. Overall, I felt really comfortable tonight,” he explained.

With his win, Price rises to second in the table, just above Jonny Clayton. A position that, at the end of the campaign, secures a play-off berth. Still, Price refuses to get ahead of himself. “Well, everything's still close. There's only seven weeks left to go before the play-offs. I don't think I'm there yet, but in another two or three weeks, it'll definitely pan out and show whether I'm in or not. I'm just going to keep ploughing on,” he emphasized.

That down-to-earth approach typifies the Welshman who, despite his explosive playing style, is often calculated and realistic off the oche. He knows better than anyone how quickly momentum can shift in the Premier League. “Obviously, you can't say don't look at the table, but I try not to think about it too much—just pick up two points each week, and I think I'll be in,” he added.

While many players target nightly wins, Price sets his sights elsewhere. For him, it’s not necessarily about taking the top prize on a given night, but about consistently picking up points. “I just aim to pick up two points each week. The nightly wins are good, but the ones when you lose first round—they're the killers. If you can just keep picking up two points, then I'm happy. But yeah, it's not so much the nightly wins, it's the two points,” he said.

That strategy stems from earlier experiences this season. Price endured several disappointing nights where he exited in the opening round. “I've gone on and won a night, then lost in the first round. I just aim to pick up two points each week. The nightly wins are good, but the first-round losses are the killers,” he admitted.

According to Price, that is the key to success in the Premier League. Players who manage to pick up points every week ultimately have the best chance of making the top four. “If you can just keep picking up two points each week, then I'm happy,” he explained.

An extra dimension to Price’s surge is his battle with compatriot Jonny Clayton. The two know each other inside out and meet regularly at the highest level. The fact that Price has now passed him in the table brings a slight smile. “Yeah, up to second in the league as well—one above Jonny, which is nice,” he joked. “Obviously, three incredible performances.”

Asked whether he had already sent his colleague a message, Price stayed light-hearted. “Not yet. I won't message him, but I will give him a little nudge when I see him,” he said with a wink.

With seven nights to go, everything is still up for grabs in the Premier League Darts. The margins are slim and one bad night can have major implications for the standings. Yet Price seems to be finding form at exactly the right time.

His game looks stable, his checkouts are sharp, and mentally he seems stronger than in the early part of the season. If he can maintain this trajectory, he is undoubtedly a serious contender for a play-off spot — and possibly more than that. Still, Price stays true to himself: step by step, match by match. “I’ll just keep ploughing on. Not looking at the table too much and picking up my points every week. Then we’ll see where we end up,” he concluded.