By David Parsons
Gerwyn Price was unable to give the Cardiff crowd a home win on the opening night of the Premier League of darts.
But The Iceman managed to make it through to the final before losing to Michael Smith, 6-2.
“I played pretty well tonight, until the final when I was rubbish,” admitted Price after winning his quarter-final and semi-final.
“But Michael was really on form and I’ve enjoyed playing in front of the Cardiff crowd again and I’m second in the table.
“So, it wasn’t a bad night and we roll on to next week in Germany.”
Gerwyn Price’s reaction to losing to Michael Smith in the Cardiff final.
🎯🏴 pic.twitter.com/TtGhKMXiKr
— Darts Cymru (@DartsCymru) February 1, 2024
A comfortable win over Price – who had earlier taken out Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross – put Smith top of the embryonic table ahead of week two in Berlin next Thursday.
Smith insisted Luke Littler’s popularity is “even bigger than Phil Taylor” after denying the 17-year-old darts sensation a shot at victory on his Premier League debut.
Smith edged out Littler 6-5 in a high-quality semi-final before going on to beat home favourite Price and silence a capacity Cardiff crowd at the Utilita Arena.
“I actually thought in the semi-final Luke Littler was Welsh,” said Smith, the 2023 world champion.
“It’s going to be every week, it doesn’t matter where it is.
“Everyone’s fallen in love with him. He’s even bigger than Phil Taylor who won 16 world titles, Luke is the most popular thing in darts.”
MICHAEL SMITH DEFEATS GERWYN PRICE IN CARDIFF pic.twitter.com/YbwP2sx7a5
— DartsAnonymous (@anonymous_darts) February 1, 2024
He continued: “I’m going to ride the wave. People keep following, sponsors keep coming in, and the prize money is going up for us lads.
“When I walked in this afternoon there were no interviews.
“Luke Littler walked in and it was ‘can you do this one, can you do that one?’.
“That was me last year. This time I got to sit and chill, break up my time on the board and it worked.”
Smith beat seven-time Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in his opening match on the way to lifting a trophy for the first time since last April.
🎯 'I've been to Pontins – but I've never been to Cardiff!'
Mae Luke Littler ymysg y sêr a fydd yn ymddangos yn Uwch Gynghrair y Dartiau yng Nghaerdydd nos Iau. pic.twitter.com/WQw3pwKiDQ
— Newyddion S4C (@NewyddionS4C) February 1, 2024
The St Helens thrower had to deal with unsportsmanlike whistling from some unruly individuals among the crowd.
Smith said: “I enjoyed the crowd apart from one or two individuals.
“I’m not going to say the crowd was disgusting because it was only two or three people, the other three or four thousand were amazing.
“Luckily enough it did not put me off, it’s expected. You know you’re going to expect some stick and some boos, especially playing Gezzy here.
“Whistling is not the best, but it happens in any sport. How do you stop it? It happens and it’s up to the sportsperson to get on with the job.
“Going top of the league after week one is a message to myself. I’m happy to win and there’s a few chinks in there, but to get five points on the opening night and a 10 grand cheque is always nice.”
Littler had earlier avenged his World Championship final defeat by Luke Humphries four weeks ago with a 6-2 quarter-final win.
He averaged 100.30 in that match and 105.31 in a ding-dong affair with Smith.
Littler hit six 180s in the semi-final, but a missed match dart on double 15 cost him dear as Smith capitalised.
Michael Smith beats Luke Littler to set up a final against Gerwyn Price in Cardiff! 🎯
Who you got in the final? 👀#BBCDarts #PLDarts pic.twitter.com/gL4VdfrnpM
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) February 1, 2024