Gerwyn Price: ‘Having a break made me fall in love with darts again’

Gerwyn Price is showcasing his personal retreat. Created last year in the lower level of his house in Markham, Caerphilly, the space boasts a full-sized snooker table, a pool table, and armchairs made from his old darts shirts. It also includes a kitchen and bar, along with a cinema area featuring a ceiling designed to look like a starry sky. "It's a nice spot to escape to when I need some alone time," he explains. "I probably spend more time playing snooker than darts. That might be an issue!"

What’s your best break? "On that table? I managed a 96. My all-time best is 108. I won’t be like Shaun Murphy and pretend I've scored a 147!" Price laughs, alluding to the snooker player’s questionable and often mocked assertion that he once achieved a nine-dart finish while playing in a pub.

Price is in good spirits today. To put it plainly, these days it's hard to predict what kind of mood he will be in: aggressive, gloomy, irritable, fatigued, challenging, witty, or reserved. For much of the past year, he has seemed like a shadow of his former self, both on and off the stage; he has been unassertive in competition and unpredictable in his performance, often giving off a vibe that he doesn’t particularly care about the outcomes. However, just before he makes his comeback at the world championship, there’s a noticeable change in Price. He exudes a renewed energy and edge. “I’m back,” he declares. “I have more confidence than ever as I head into the world championships. Probably more than when I won it in 2021.”

If this turns out to be correct, it's significant, especially considering how 2024 has played out for him—it’s felt like a nightmare happening in slow motion. His performance in the Premier League was subpar, and things haven’t improved since then. He didn’t make it past the round of 16 in any major tournament this year, and he didn’t qualify for the Grand Slam, a competition he has managed to win three times in the last six years. Currently, based on this year’s earnings, Price ranks 31st in the world. “I typically find my best form in June and July,” he says. “But for some reason, that just didn’t occur this time.”

Price attributes much of the challenge to the revamped Professional Darts Corporation schedule, which is an exhausting week-to-week grind that leaves minimal time for rest and recovery, reflection, or addressing performance slumps. With Pro Tour events running from Monday to Wednesday, the Premier League on Thursday, and European Tour events scheduled for the weekends, he notes, “It was hard, but manageable,” when reflecting on the previous timetable. "Now, though, you have to skip some tournaments, and the tough part is deciding which ones you can afford to miss."

At some point, Price lost track of who he was. "After coming off the Premier League, my head just wasn’t in it," he explains. "I was just showing up and going through the motions, and that’s not how you succeed in darts." Did he consider reaching out for professional help? "No, and that's likely where I made a mistake. I should have gotten some support. But I had so much else going on—managing my fish and chip shop, dealing with my house. I definitely wasn’t as focused as I needed to be."

There was only one true solution to his problem, and fate was getting ready to make it happen. Not qualifying for the Grand Slam, along with an early departure from the Players Championship Finals, brought the unexpected benefit of a longer break. He took the time to celebrate his daughters' birthdays and enjoyed his wedding anniversary at home for the first time. However, while spending time in isolation, something started to awaken within him.

He reflects, "Whenever I was gone, I longed to be at home, but when I was at home, I wished to be elsewhere. After spending three weeks at home, I found myself lost and unsure of how to fill my time. I discovered that without darts, I felt pretty aimless. The kids were at school, and all my friends were busy with their jobs and other activities. Being at home is nice, but I’ve come to understand that I actually prefer being on the road. I've realized that my life revolves around darts, and I need to embrace that and stop dwelling on the negatives."

Did he catch the Grand Slam? “I watched a few parts here and there.” Did it ignite any passion in him? “Not really, I just needed some time off. Now I feel revitalized. It feels like I want to get back in the game, almost like being a kid again, like when I first started playing. It’s reignited my love for the sport. Over the past two weeks, I’ve played some of the best darts I’ve shown since 2020. I haven’t just beaten some of the top players in the world; I’ve completely dominated them.”

In the past few weeks, audiences at exhibitions throughout Europe have gotten to know the revamped and more competitive Price. “I realize these are just exhibitions, but we all want to come out on top,” he shares. “It's not just me—Luke Humphries, Stephen Bunting, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith—we're all aiming to win the night and carry that positive energy into the world championship.”

"I completely impressed everyone. Everything came together perfectly. I was having a great time up on stage, engaging with the audience and giving it my all. I felt like my old self again, like the Gerwyn Price of the past."

There's no question that the world of the sport has transformed significantly since Price was at his peak. Humphries and Luke Littler are currently leading the pack, while Mike De Decker and Wessel Nijman are not far behind. But what about the veterans? "The players who used to be reliable are now struggling," Price notes. "Van Gerwen, Smith, myself, and Jonny Clayton have paved the way for these newcomers. It's now our responsibility to elevate our game and restore order."

The confidence has returned. The attitude is back. Much of this can be seen as a show, a mantra, or even a bit of self-deception. However, at his peak, Price was always motivated by an extraordinary amount of determination and self-belief. He had a knack for embracing negativity and disregarding others' opinions, even if he secretly cared. "I’m a natural winner," he states. "Whether I'm competing for £500,000 at Alexandra Palace or just playing a friend for a drink at the snooker table, that competitive spirit is ingrained in me."

These days, he doesn't rely on money. With his chip shop, a collection of properties, and various business ventures, he’s in a comfortable position. However, making money was never his main goal. Regarding the conversation about retirement, he dismisses it, saying, “It’s been exaggerated. I’m only 39. I've mentioned that I’ll consider retiring when I have either 50 houses or reach the age of 50. So I've still got another 10 to 11 years ahead of me, if not longer.” And as for reaching that housing goal? “I’m far from it,” he chuckles.

Price expresses, "In my mind, I haven't reached my full potential yet. There's still so much more for me to offer. I’m confident that I'll rack up many more wins in the upcoming year. When I perform at my best, I don't think anyone can beat me. It's easy to talk about it, but the real test is on the dartboard, and that journey begins on Monday night."

Another significant feature of Price's man cave is its impressive decor. Like any excellent hangout, it's adorned with artwork, and in this case, that takes the form of framed jerseys and photographs celebrating his achievements. There’s an interesting contrast here: the sanctuary where Price seeks refuge from daily life continuously reminds him of his victories. The sense of peace he enjoys today is a result of the struggles he faced in the past.

For early humans, caves represented a safe haven, a source of pride, and a reward for their hard work. However, they needed to venture out before they could truly appreciate it.