"You guys keep bringing it up, I really don't care": Gerwyn Price not fussed about major drought

For Gerwyn Price, it was an evening full of tension, frustration and ultimately relief at the UK Open. The Welshman looked set for an early exit for a long time, but fought back dramatically to snatch victory.

Afterwards, the former world champion admitted he was relieved — but also critical of his own performance. In his last-16 clash with Keane Barry, Price recovered from 9-4 down to claim a thrilling 10-9 victory and book his place in the UK Open quarter-finals.

“Obviously I’m relieved and thankful to get through,” Price said afterwards. “But I gave too many chances away by missing doubles.”

Price found life difficult against the young Irishman, who punished almost every opportunity. “My scoring was really good,” Price explained. “Keane played a decent game as well and every opportunity I gave him, fair play to him, he took.”

For long periods, Price was chasing the match rather than controlling it — a frustrating position for a player renowned for his explosive scoring and clinical finishing.

The turning point came late in the contest as Price closed the gap. “When I got it back to 9-8, I was thinking he’s under it,” Price said. “I could see he wasn’t playing as well. I was still scoring, so I just needed to keep that up and put him under pressure.”

The deciding leg then swung firmly in his favour. “I started with a 180 and thought, ‘Here we go,’” Price recalled. “I’m not sure what he hit, but one of his darts fell on the floor and I was like, ‘Oh, thank God for that.’”

It was a moment that allowed Price to seize control and complete the comeback.

The victory came just a day after Price celebrated his 41st birthday — meaning defeat would have been a disappointing way to mark the occasion. “If I’d lost, I would’ve just gone home,” he said bluntly. “But I battled until the end and thankfully it’s gone my way.”

The atmosphere inside the arena added to the intensity of the match. "I thought the support was pretty mutual,” Price said. “Keane had good support and I did as well throughout the game.”

However, he noticed the crowd’s reaction grow louder as the comeback gathered pace. “Obviously when I started coming back it ramped up the volume a little bit for me.”

Interestingly, Price admitted he barely noticed the noise during much of the match. “I must have been zoned in because I couldn’t really hear them during the game. I only really noticed it towards the end.”

While Price has previously dealt with back problems, he insisted that issue is currently under control. “My back is fine,” he said.

Instead, a different and rather unusual problem appeared the day before the match. “I opened the door with my leg — probably because I haven’t been to the gym for a couple of weeks — and I pulled my groin,” he laughed. “It’s strange. It doesn’t hurt when I play, but it hurts when I’m not playing.”

There has been frequent discussion about the time since Price last won a major ranking title, but he insists it is not something that occupies his thoughts. “Honestly, I don’t think about it one bit,” he said. “You guys keep bringing it up.”

Price emphasised that he continues to collect ranking points through other events. “I’m still playing Pro Tours and European Tours, winning games and picking up ranking points and money.”

He also sees the current season as an opportunity to climb the rankings again. “I had a terrible year a couple of years ago, so I’ve got a free year now. If I have a good run here and win this, I’m back around world number five.”

Price also pointed to the extraordinary level of competition in the modern game. “The standard now is ridiculous,” he said. “Even when you play well you can still go out because someone else throws a great game against you.”

Luck can therefore play a decisive role. “I probably had a little bit of luck at the right moment today,” he admitted. “Sometimes that’s what you need to win tournaments.”

According to Price, moments like that can change the momentum of an entire tournament. “When you get that bit of luck it gives you a big boost in confidence.”

In recent seasons Price has sometimes appeared frustrated on stage, but he is trying to approach the game differently now. “Over the last couple of years I’ve been down on myself and quite negative,” he admitted.

His current focus is far simpler. “If I can just enjoy it and smile when I lose and smile when I win, that’s enough.”

Despite that relaxed outlook, Price still has ambitious goals for the remainder of his career. “Before I retire I’d like to win every single event,” he said.

He specifically highlighted several major tournaments still missing from his résumé. “That’s probably the only time I put pressure on myself — tournaments like the UK Open, the Players Championship Finals and the Premier League that I haven’t won yet.”

Even so, his attitude remains grounded. “I’d love to win them,” Price said. “But if I don’t, I’m still happy.”

After such a dramatic comeback, he hopes the evening could prove a turning point. “I had a little bit of luck today,” he said with a smile. “Hopefully that’s a good omen.”