Price on battle with Wright for World Number One spot: "As long as he keeps chasing then I'm in a good place"

Gerwyn Price came through his opener against Michael Smith in an emphatic win for 'The Iceman' who will aim to defend his title this time in Leicester this week and he was pretty pleased with his display speaking post match.

"I thought that I played pretty well especially first set and the problem was that I looked over and I seen that I was averaging like 104 and then I think I've got to keep this up and put a little bit too much pressure on myself but I know Michael slipped up in a couple of legs, I know I couldn't start on one or two of them but overall it was a good performance," said Price post match.

Victory in Budapest and Gibraltar recently on the European Tour puts him bang on form and he spoke also about a shift in mindset recently.

"Obviously winning breeds confidence so I'm full of it and I know this tournament's a bit different with double start double finish and it can get you a bit mentally but I just seem to concentrate a bit more these days and don't seem to try and put myself under too much pressure and today it worked."

He pulled out of the Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen with eventual finalist Fallon Sherrock benefitting and he said the decision has been vindicated.

"People were slating me for pulling out of a tournament but it wasn't ranked and I thought it was the best thing to do and winning in GIbraltar and playing pretty well in that first game proves them wrong."

While another part of the next few months comes with the World Number One race and for Price he is glad to keep the chasing pack behind.

"I'm number one now and I've been there done it. Peter's obviously chasing it, he's never been there so as long as he keeps chasing then I'm in a good place."