"I've started craving McDonalds again": Gerwyn Price explains incredible weight loss but with one vice he can't shake

Gerwyn Price has shed an impressive amount of weight ahead of his Australian Darts Masters title defence – but admits the temptation of a McDonald’s breakfast is never far away.

“Hopefully [the weight stays off], but I don’t know,” Price said after his first-round victory. “I’ve started craving McDonald’s again, so I’m not sure.”

Told he could reward himself with a fast food treat if he lifts the trophy again, the Welshman laughed: “I was having one at about six this morning, so give it another month and if I keep doing it I’ll be back on!”

Price revealed he has lost “between 13 and 15 kilos – probably about three stone” through dieting, returning to the gym and taking better care of himself. “I’m not sure what it is in kilos… how many kilos in a stone? Yeah, probably about three stone here – dieting, back in the gym and just looking after myself.”

While the change hasn’t altered his throw physically, Price says the mental benefits are huge. “I don’t think it affects me physically when I’m throwing, but mentally it definitely helps. I feel comfortable, I’m in smaller clothes, I feel better in myself, and mentally it’s a lot better.”

The first sign of progress came in his playing shirts. “I tried to squeeze into a large a little bit too soon,” he admitted. “But after a month or two I could fit in it and it was all right.” But what of is his current design. “Like you said, I do it whenever I go on the Premier League and different World Series events. I chose the colours and I picked this one – I think it goes well.”

Reflecting on last year’s emphatic 8–1 win over Luke Littler at the same event, Price said: “Looking back, 2024 was probably the worst season I’ve had since I got my tour card. I was absolute rubbish. But that was a good game and I watched it back a couple of times in the practice room. And yeah, I haven’t dropped a couple of pounds since then, have I?”

Price’s defence began with a solid if unspectacular win, but he admitted it felt tougher than it should have been. “I’m not sure what it was like. Obviously, the sleeping pattern and where I wanted to be at the minute… I was up really early today, but even in the practice room I didn’t feel it. I felt really cold in there and just couldn’t warm up tidy when I was practising or when I was sat down. I just felt like things weren’t right, but it was a decent game. I thought I played average, but he hit some decent scores at the right time against my leg and put me under some pressure. Sometimes that can happen – it’ll give you a little kick up the backside ready for the next one.”

There was also the added challenge of facing an unfamiliar opponent. “No disrespect, I didn’t really know how good the player was, and sometimes that’s a little bit harder. I’d rather know what I’m coming up against. But yeah, I thought he played pretty decent and I wasn’t firing on all cylinders, but a win’s a win.”

Price, who won the event last year, isn’t obsessed with defending titles. “It’s not so much about defending them, but just winning them and giving you a boost of confidence going into next week. Every time you win, when you go into the next one you feel the confidence. Winning breeds confidence, and that’s all I want at the minute.”

Asked if he was disappointed not to have claimed a major title yet in 2025, he was unconcerned. “No, I’m not bothered, as long as I can be consistent and keep picking up some good ranking points. If I don’t win tournaments but I get the quarters, semis and finals, then trophies don’t matter to me. It’s just the ranking points and a bit of money at the minute.”

That pragmatic approach comes down to priorities. “I’ve just got a family to look after. As long as I provide for them and build a platform, invest my money well, then yeah… I mean, I love to win trophies, I love to do well and leave a legacy. But money means everything, doesn’t it?”

Price doesn’t think this mindset has reduced pressure on stage. “I want to win every tournament I go into and I put myself under pressure. But you can’t win everything with the standard the way it is at the minute. What has eased the pressure is that I’ve invested my money well and I’m not under pressure if I don’t win. But if I do, then the rewards are there.” He also offered advice for other players: “I think it’s better than to just gamble, stay in the casino, lose all their money and be under pressure. It’s easier for me.”

Price admitted he knew little about opponent Joe Comito before the match, but was impressed in spells. “In patches I thought he played well against the throw. If he probably could have done that on his throw, then it would have been a closer game, especially the way I was playing. But in patches he was good, and in patches he was a bit like me – a bit rubbish as well.”

Two weeks on from the World Matchplay, Price reflected on his run to the latter stages. “I thought it was a good week, a little bit disappointing towards the end. Josh played really well against me and is in some good form. I thought I was there to win it and I had a really good chance. But there’s a lot of good players out there playing really well at the minute, and I came up against a good player in Josh. Fair play to him – he took out some good, timely shots. I couldn’t get a leg in front, and before every break he was just that one leg ahead. It was quite difficult for me, but he played really well.”

Jet lag is always a challenge for Price in Australia. “It has been a killer for the last two or three years. I haven’t got off the UK pattern – I’ve been sleeping all day and awake all night. But I think if I stay awake quite late tonight, the jet lag will be gone, which will be good.” With a potentially long day of matches ahead, rest will be vital. “That’s what I mean, I need a good night’s sleep. I need to get it right tomorrow.”