"To be honest with you, I can’t even remember it": Gerwyn Price has put Plaisier World Championship disappointment behind him, believes Premier League spot was deserved

Gerwyn Price opened his 2026 campaign with a 6–4 victory over Motomu Sakai at the Bahrain Darts Masters, but the Welshman was quick to admit he was far from his best after a lengthy break from competitive action averaging late 70's.

Price, who was making his first appearance since his World Championship exit, revealed he had barely touched his darts in the build-up to the event after opting for a short holiday. “I haven’t thrown a dart for many days since I obviously lost at the Worlds,” Price said to the media. “I actually had a week’s holiday. I did take a travel board with me, but it didn’t go on the wall, so I probably should have had a practice.”

Despite progressing in Bahrain, Price acknowledged that his performance reflected that lack of preparation, with the World Series events serving more as a platform for experimentation rather than peak performance.

“I’ll try out something different today and next week and see how things go,” he explained. “The main priority is the Masters at the end of January and then looking forward to the Premier League. These events are good prep, and I’ll give it 100 per cent, but I need to put a little bit more practice in over the next couple of weeks.”

Reflecting on his early World Championship exit, Price insisted it was simply one of those days rather than a deeper issue with his game. “It was just one of them games, one of them days, and sometimes you just have to take it on the chin,” he said. “Unfortunately for me, it was at the World Championship. It can happen at any time, and for me it was the wrong timing. Fair play, they played well against me, but I’ve moved on from that and I’m looking forward to 2026.”

While Price came agonisingly close to major success throughout 2025, he believes the foundations are already in place for a stronger year ahead — provided he can translate floor form onto the televised stage.

“I know how well I was playing last season,” he said. “I did really well on the Pro Tours and the European Tour, but I just need to back it up and start doing it on TV. It’s a new year and I’m really looking forward to it, and hopefully it can be a bit better than last year.”

Although the World Series events carry significant prize money, Price admitted he used his opening match in Bahrain to tinker with his equipment, particularly his dart points.

“Every tournament I play in I want to win,” he said. “But I tinkered with my darts today — I put some shorter points in. I probably should have done that after I’d had some practice because I haven’t been on the board for about 10 days, maybe two weeks. But a win’s a win.”

That experimentation will continue, with Price planning a more thorough practice routine ahead of his next match. “I’ll get on the board tonight, put my travel board up and have a good practice ready for tomorrow,” he added.

Price spoke when he could have faced either Luke Littler or darts legend Paul Lim in the next round, and while he acknowledged Lim’s status within the sport, the former world champion admitted he would rather renew his rivalry with the teenage sensation.

“I think I’ve played Paul once before, but it’d be nice to play him again,” Price said. “You never know how many more years he’s going to keep playing, so to play a legend like that any time would be nice. But yeah — I’d rather play Luke.”

Attention will soon turn to Saudi Arabia, where a lucrative bonus has been announced for a nine-dart finish — with £100,000 on offer for perfection and a further £100,000 for hitting the bull immediately afterwards. For one of the game’s most prolific nine-dart hitters, the incentive is clear.

“That’d be great,” Price said. “Once you hit a nine-darter, you get the opportunity to win another £100,000 on top. So yeah, it’d be brilliant. But I’m sure they’ve got a million in stock, so I think they need to up it a bit.”

Price also provided insight into his ongoing equipment changes, explaining that his return to shorter points is rooted in his most successful years.

“In the World Championship, my first game I used the short points, and in my second game I went back to my long points,” he explained. “I was in the middle — I didn’t know what to do. The points I’m using now are what I used right up until the beginning of 2025. All the years before that, when I was world champion, when I won the Grand Slam, I was using these shorter points. So if I stick with them and put a bit of practice in, I’m sure they’ll be alright.”

Asked whether confidence in his setup had been an issue late last year, Price dismissed the idea. “Not really,” he said. “Sometimes you just don’t perform in games. That’s what happened to me at the World Championship. You just have to forget about it, move on and look forward to 2026.”

The atmosphere in Bahrain was relatively subdued at times, though Price felt the crowd responded when the standard improved. “When I started hitting a couple of trebles and eventually a 180 or a 140, the crowd started getting involved,” he said. “But when the game isn’t very good, it’s hard for them to get involved. I’m sure they’ll get a bit more lively.”

Price was also asked about a moment at Alexandra Palace where the crowd appeared to rally behind him during his match against Wesley Plaisier, but admitted he had little recollection of the incident. “To be honest with you, I can’t even remember it,” he said. “I’ve probably forgotten the World Championship. For me it’s not about looking back — it’s about moving forward and looking ahead to 2026.”

One thing firmly in his focus is the Premier League, with Price expressing renewed enthusiasm about his inclusion in this year’s line-up. “I’m looking forward to playing in the Premier League now more than ever,” he said. “Last season, I wanted to play in it more than any other season I’ve played in, and I’m probably the same this year. I really think I deserve it and I’ll give it 100 per cent.”

While Price acknowledged painful defeats — such as his World Grand Prix loss to Luke Littler — he insisted he draws confidence from his victories rather than dwelling on missed opportunities.

“I don’t really dwell on games like that,” he said. “I look back on games that give me confidence. I’ve been reviewing matches from when I used my old setup — like the Grand Slam final against Peter Wright and the semi-final against Michael van Gerwen. I focus on games that give me a boost rather than ones that could’ve gone differently.”

Finally, when asked whether he had ever considered reinventing himself, following comments from Michael van Gerwen about becoming a “new” version of himself, Price was unequivocal.

“Not really,” he said. “Apart from a different setup, I am where I am. I don’t think I’ll ever change as a person. Performances and the way I play — that’s something I can’t always control, but I’d never change who I am.”