Price looking to erase bad World Matchplay memories: "I've approached it wrong in the last couple of years"

Gerwyn Price comes into this year's World Matchplay in a weird spot with 'The Iceman' not having had the best of form previously in the tournament and his match practice not being at it's hilt due to the stop start nature of the tour and missing the Premier League.

Not a winner since his return to the ProTour, he admitted himself though that he has been on the end of both brilliant displays and inconsistency on his behalf.

"In previous years, this is where I've come into my own. This year's a lot different, I haven't had the match practice I need. But saying that, I'm playing outstanding, I'm throwing some sick averages. I know I'm playing well but just letting people off with doubles and then they end up taking the shot out and then I'm frustrated for two legs," sad Price to The Darts Show podcast.

"I'm going into the Matchplay now and hopefully I'll get through the first round and be full of confidence and then they can look out then."

"People are playing out of their skin to beat me. Don't get me wrong, I lost two games where I played really bad which was against Stephen Bunting and Boris (Krcmar). Leading up to the Bunting game, I don't think I went under a 103 average. That's the problem, I'm either firing averages but then I can drop down to a 90, that's what I need to iron out ready for the World's again and the Grand Slam. I need to be on my A game."

First up will be Jermaine Wattimena who is a late replacement but he isn't bothered about who he plays and will only worry himself about his own game.

"If you start worrying about what other people do, that's when you're gonna slip up. I know 100% in my own head that if I play well, I'm going to win. I can't control anything they do so it doesn't matter if I'm playing him, Mensur, I've got to concentrate on my own game."

The World Number One is also setting a different mindset this time with four consecutive first round exits and not getting past the second round since 2015 on debut.

He said he needs to stop mixing his personal life with professional with the temptation previously to treat it as a family holiday of sorts.

"The Matchplay is the only event where my two daughters, my wife come all together, my dad comes and it can take your mind away from the job that you've got in hand and that's why I'm doing things a little different this year."

"I just need to focus on what I'm doing. I just think I've approached it wrong in the last couple of years, I just need to stop mixing my professional life with my personal life really."