Why does Gerwyn Price get booed at the World Darts Championships?
GERWYN PRICE is back at the Darts World Championships this year – and he’s hoping to go all the way.
The Welshman won it all back in 2021 when he beat Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final.
Since then, however, Price has had his fair share of issues with darts crowds at the Ally Pally.
Known to be a provocative player at the oche, Price has previously done his best to stir up the crowd with his antics.
But last year it all came to a head at the World Championships when Price put ear defenders on to block out jeers from the crowd.
This year he’s been booed again, with that incident fresh in the minds of darts fans, but some fans are also cheering him.
Why does Gerwyn Price get booed?
Price has always had a hot and cold relationship with darts crowds, particularly at the Alexandra Palace.
The 38-year-old has stirred up the crowd on numerous occasions, rubbing them up the wrong way in the process.
During a match with Anderson several years ago, the Scotsman shoved Price because of his celebration.
And the Ally Pally crowd have also chanted ‘sheep s*****r’ at Price on multiple occasions.
This year, Price admitted he didn’t even know if he would play this year’s championships because of the fans, but said he was happy to receive some support during his first round match.
“I was sat in my house at 6 o’clock yesterday and probably wasn’t going to play the tournament. I wasn’t even on my way to London,” he said.
“It is really difficult to come here with crowds on your back but credit to the crowd. If they keep on like this, there is no reason I can’t win it.
“It wasn’t my A-game – first-round jitters – but I am happy to get through… I played pretty decent.
“The crowd were brilliant. Last year they got on my back but this year they were brilliant. I was a bit apprehensive but fair play to them.”
Price has even previously called for the tournament to be moved from London every year so he can have a better chance at winning.
“I think it’s only right that the tournament should move to different parts of the world, and then I’ll have a better chance,” he added.
“Germany is becoming a huge market for the PDC and darts is growing massively all over Europe, so if they were to move it to Germany, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Belgium I don’t see any reason why they can’t host it.”