Gerwyn Price believes he would rather win every other major than have to go and perform at the Alexandra Palace; Price won the Worlds in 2021 behind closed doors; Price begins his campaign against Connor Scutt on Monday evening - live from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts
Monday 18 December 2023 18:31, UK
Gerwyn Price knows how to win a World Darts Championship but he has a difficult relationship with playing at the Alexandra Palace.
Price won the Worlds behind closed doors in 2021, beating Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final, but the lack of fans ultimately helped his campaign that year.
He begins his challenge this year in Round Two against Connor Scutt on Monday evening, live from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts.
Playing the set format is also not to the Welshman's advantage, admitting he has to "grin and bear it" when competing for so long.
For Price, winning "every other major" would be preferable to the tough Ally Pally tournament and he believes that if the Worlds were staged anywhere else, he would be a multiple world champion by now.
"Ally Pally is not my favourite venue. If I could pick it up and bring it to Wolverhampton I'd be a multiple World Champion already," Price told Sky Sports.
"For me, it's the longevity of the tournament. It's like playing four different tournaments in one tournament.
"You go and get through your first round and then when you return it's like playing another tournament so it's not my favourite, it's not my favourite format, I hate playing the set format so I have to grin and bear it.
"I'd rather win every other major and not even go to Ally Pally. That would do me.
"I reached three finals at the Grand Prix so when it is a set format, I should prefer that sort of format than all those short little sprints.
"I think it's just a bit of a leveller when it's a set format."
Despite the fans sometimes getting on Price's back, the 'Iceman' famously wearing ear defenders during last years World Darts Championship, he has had a good run of support in the Premier League and hopes it continues when he walks out onto the Alexandra Palace stage.
"I won the Worlds behind closed doors, so I'd love to win it again just based on the fact that there was nobody there when I won it the first time. But not just that, the family and everything after it. I was just sat in my kitchen doing nothing so it would be nice to win it again and parade it, show it off a bit," Price added.
"This year the crowd has been awesome for me since the Premier League when I wore different coloured shirts to represent the country I was playing in.
"Green in Ireland, red in Wales and blue in Scotland but then it was a different added pressure because you've got the crowd with you, so it's been a good year with the crowd so hopefully it continues.
"Say you're playing an English player in England or a German player in Germany you kind of expect the crowd against you to a certain extent but that's what happens sometimes."
The firm favourite heading into the Worlds this year is Luke Humphries after his great run of form, most recently picking up the Grand Slam of Darts title, his third major in a row.
Price is projected to meet Humphries in the final this year and although Humphries is the man to beat, Price is confident that the pressure of the tournament could go against 'Cool Hands'.
"Luke Humphries is a great player, a young player and full of confidence at the minute. That's what this game is all about. When you're confident and you're winning games it just breeds more confidence but he's playing brilliant," said Price.
"Luke might be playing fantastic but there are so many players to beat on any given day and if you're off your game a little bit. Luke, Michael or a qualifier, it doesn't matter because you're not going to win.
"There are favourites and there are players who might look more likely, but I think anyone can win it. I wouldn't write anyone off.
"I'd rather play the worst player on Tour in the final than play Luke. He's won three majors on the bounce and when he's hitting that treble he just looks unbeatable. I'm more confident in my own game if I did play Luke tomorrow or in a World Championship final.
"He's in some great form but that doesn't really count for nothing apart from his own confidence going into the World Championship. It's a completely different day, different tournament, format and a lot of added pressures.
"I think he'd give all those three trophies up just to win this one."
The sport's biggest event is under way to January 3, 2024 as 96 players compete for the Sid Waddell Trophy and £2.5m in prize money at Alexandra Palace.
You can watch all the action live on our dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel.
Watch the World Darts Championship all the way until the final on January 3, 2024 - live on Sky Sports Darts. NOW Sports Month Membership: £21 a month for 6 months
