A leading darts pundit has tipped Gerwyn Price to walk away from the sport after what proved a humiliating night for the world No 1 at the Ally Pally.
'The Iceman' was humbled 5-1 by German outsider Gabriel Clemens, winning just seven legs along the way. But the post-match talk wasn't dominated so much by the score, but by Price bizarrely coming out for the fifth set in headphones.
It appeared an attempt by the Welsh player to drown out the jeering from the 3,000 strong crowd, who were heavily backing German star Clemens. It made little difference to the flow of the match, with the world No 26 winning that set and although Price swapped the item for ear plugs in the sixth, Clemens took it 3-0 to seal the biggest win of his career.
2021 champion Price then took to Instagram with a cryptic message, suggesting he could now quit the world stage for good: "So frustrating you play all year round preparing for this one tournament. So gutted I wasn't let play (properly) but good luck everyone left in. Not sure I will ever play in this event again."
And pundit Paul Nicholson believes the threat of the threat of the 37-year-old is real: "I genuinely do think, because Price is a very independent soul, that the treatment that he gets on the stage - whether he wears ear plugs, ear defenders, whatever he does, if he gets treated this way, I honestly think he might walk from the sport," he said. "If it doesn't change, we will lose him."
His comments were posted on Twitter by the @talkSPORT2 account, and prompted big reaction. YouTuber and famous darts fan Jack Dean defended Price, writing: "He might be getting smashed, but Gerwyn Price is quality for the sport of darts.
"You need a pantomime villain, and he’ll give you exactly that and more. Always an absolute gentlemen whenever I’ve filmed bits and bobs with him. I am a Gezzy fanboy and I love it."
Sky pundit Wayne Mardle said he thought Price was initially having some fun: "When Gerwyn donned the ear wear tonight and started joking with the crowd, I actually thought he would win them over with humour, obviously not," he wrote. "It’s sad he felt that he had to put them on. I really hope he hasn’t invited more boos going forward. The sport needs him."
Price has long been viewed as a pantomime villain in the sport, and after his last-16 win against Jose de Sousa he angered fans with an offensive gesture on stage, with the star later apologising for his actions. @misterdave78 echoed the sentiments of many by posting: "So the guy who has based his game on trying to intimidate his opponent, Is threatening to quit the sport as he feels the crowd are trying to intimidate him. 2023 same as it ever was."
It was a much smoother night for new title favourite Michael van Gerwen, who wasted no time in whitewashing Chris Dobey 5-0. And the Dutchman was later asked whether he would have acted similarly to his rival had he been receiving the same crowd abuse.
"[Wearing ear defenders] has never been done in darts before and also he doesn't need it, but he's in a tough period so he's thinking about things," he told Sky Sports. "He shouldn't put himself in that position but that's darts unfortunately."
Van Gerwen will now play Dimitri Van den Bergh in Monday night's semi finals. Clemens meanwhile, will take on 2022 runner-up Michael 'Bully Boy' Smith.
