"Much better now the crowd's on my side": Pantomime villain to fan favourite as Gerwyn Price finally excited for PDC World Darts Championship

Gerwyn Price is looking forward to the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace. Where for years 'The Iceman' had to deal with whistling concerts and a strained relationship with the public, the atmosphere around him seems to have completely tilted in recent months. And that does the former world champion visibly well.

"It's much better now that the crowd's on my side," Price said during an interview with talkSPORT. "It's been tough over the years - but especially the last couple of months - they're right behind me. So I'm actually looking forward to going to Ally Pally this year."

The World Darts Championship is not moving, but it is growing in capacity starting next year. From then on, another 70,000 more fans will fit into the iconic palace, which has been the permanent darts temple since 2008. For Price, the venue now has a very different meaning than it did in the difficult years. "It wasn't [enjoyable] for me obviously for certain reasons, but I love playing in the Premier League and some of those are the biggest venues with the biggest crowds.

"But yeah, Ally Pally with the atmosphere, I don't think you can beat that."

Yet Price still has a soft spot for the huge Premier League arenas. "It wasn’t for me, obviously, for certain reasons. But yeah, I love playing in the Premier League and some of those are the biggest venues with the biggest crowds. But Ally Pally with the atmosphere – I don’t think you can beat that."

Leading up to the World Championship, Price is picking up his practice routine more seriously than in the rest of the year. "II probably practise more now over the next week than I have in the last week. It’s the only time we have a little bit of time off leading up to the Worlds, so I put a lot of practice in, spend a lot of time on the board, and fingers crossed then when the first round comes around.

"It depends on the time of year. When the Premier League’s on and we’re really busy, we’re on the road six days a week and probably only get a day and a half at home. So when I’m home, I don’t practise – my match is my practice, really. But this time of year, when I have a little bit of time off, I’ll put a couple of hours on the board."

Price will meet Czech darter Adam Gawlas in his opening round. It is not the most difficult opponent on paper, but the Welshman refuses to underestimate anyone. "I think I’ve played him before. I don’t think I’ve played him many times, but I know he’s a good young up-and-comer, so I don’t take anything for granted. Don’t underestimate anyone, and I’m expecting a tough game."

About his own approach, Price is clear: "One hundred per cent I just go up there and do my own thing. I can’t control anything the other players do. So yes, I definitely play the board."

One of the most talked about first-round matches is that of Daryl Gurney against Beau Greaves. The 20-year-old sensation has been dominating the women's circuit for months and is seen by many experts as a dangerous outsider in the men's field. Price sees that quality as well.

"Do we want her to stay in or do we want her to go out? I'm not sure. For someone to win so many games and so many tournaments on the bounce, she's in a level of her own in terms of the ladies' game.

Whether he sees her beating Gurney? The Welshman is remarkably honest about that: "I'm not sure because I don't know if I want to play her further down the line. She can even live with anyone in the men's game as well. She's playing brilliant."

The dart world is brimming with talent, and Price says that is a logical consequence of the popularity explosion in recent years. "There are so many academies and young kids now that have got an interest in the game and have been playing over the last two years since, obviously, young Luke has come on the scene. I think you’re going to see a lot more like Luke, if not better, over the next coming years."

Gian van Veen's name is being mentioned as the "Dutch Littler," and Price is impressed. "I think he won the European Finals against the other Luke. He’s a great player, a great up-and-coming youngster. There’s a lot of them."