"I've played players at their best and Luke Littler is levels above" - Gerwyn Price full of praise for 18-year-old superstar

Gerwyn Price failed to win the Players Championship Finals for the first time in his career. 'The Iceman' lost in the semifinals after an 11-8 defeat against later winner Luke Littler.

In a particularly intense semifinal, Luke Littler once again showed his enormous class. Price certainly did not play badly with an average of 101.99, yet it was Littler who prevailed with an average of 108.48. Price, who candidly reflected on the match afterwards, had nothing but praise for the young sensation. "Wow that kid don't miss. Not at my best but threw everything I could at him tonight," he wrote on Instagram.

Price emphasized that while he has faced many top players in absolute form in his career, he believes Littler is a category unto himself. "I have played players at their best and Luke is levels above. Great for the game and great for me, keeps me practicing."

Despite the defeat, he saw plenty of positives in his own play. "On a plus I'm playing ok and the World's just around the corner. Thanks for all the great support this weekend, it's been a pleasure."

With the World Championship just around the corner, the excitement in the darts world seems to be on the rise once again. If Littler maintains his current form, he will undoubtedly become one of the biggest attractions of the tournament. But his opponents are also showing they are getting better by playing against him. Price's semifinal against Littler was perfect proof of that: a mix of admiration, fighting spirit and the belief that the best is yet to come.