"Picked up incredibly well to come back and steal the win": Pride but pain as Keane Barry loses to Gerwyn Price but returns to form at UK Open

Keane Barry could really use a boost given his low position on the world rankings. The Irishman hopes to keep his PDC Tour Card after this season, and he did well at the UK Open last weekend, but the weekend could actually have gone even better.

‘Dynamite’ had slipped to 58th on the world rankings. However, in Minehead Barry beat Kim Huybrechts (6-5), Henry Coates (10-2), and Ryan Joyce (10-7) to reach the last sixteen.

In the last 16 Barry was on course for a huge upset against Gerwyn Price, because after thirteen legs Barry led by a surprising 9-4. Price, though, found another gear and reeled off six sensational legs to snatch a 10-9 win.

Despite this painful defeat, Barry still took home £12,500 in prize money. Even so, there was understandable disappointment afterward for the former JDC world champion. “Gutted to be knocked out of the UK Open last night just missing out on a spot in the quarter finals being beaten 10-9 by Gerwyn Price,” he reflected on Facebook.

"I managed to build up a lead and despite averaging around 100 for the whole match, he picked up incredibly well to come back and steal the win,” Barry continued, giving Price full credit for his comeback.

Barry ultimately ended on a positive note. "I’m very proud of my performance last night and throughout the whole tournament, it was nice to get a good run and I’m looking forward to building on it in the coming months."

With his performances last weekend, Barry has climbed to 56th on the world rankings. After the World Darts Championship he needs to be inside the top 64 of the PDC Order of Merit to retain his PDC Tour Card.