By Gareth James

Gerwyn Price wants next year’s PDC Darts World Championships to be held in Wales.

The deposed world champion – who lost his crown in a thrilling but painful quarter-final defeat to Michael Smith – insists moving the tournament around Europe is the solution to the abuse he and others have suffered from the Alexandra Palace crowd in London.

Price, who last year became the first Welshman to win the recognised world title since Richie Burnett in 1995, had to contend with constant abusive heckling throughout his matches.

The chants included yells of “sheep shagger” which became so noticeable that Sky Sports TV producers decided to dip the audio levels on their coverage.

Price has now called for the tournament to be played in different countries each year, starting with Wales in 12 months’ time.

Writing on Instagram, he said: “It’s only fair the World Championships are played in each country.

“Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England, Europe. Next year in Wales please.”

 

Not sure any sportsman should put up with what @Gezzyprice has to. Fine line between banter and bullying/abuse. Not good for the sport.

— Gareth Maule (@GarethMaule) January 1, 2022

Price lost an epic 5-4 battle to Smith on Saturday night, the Englishman who will now contest the final against Scotland’s Peter Wright.

Price had hit a nine dart finish in the second leg of set four, which was a third of the tournament overall and a record in any one World Championship – but Smith then took out 130 to level the match at 2-2.

The Iceman kept his cool to secure the fifth set with an impressive 108 finish and move ahead once again, only for Smith to respond once more as he claimed the sixth 3-0.

Smith, runner up to Michael Van Gerwen in 2019, looked to have the momentum, only to miss a chance to close out the seventh, which Price did on double top to move within a set of victory.

As tension mounted, Price paused mid throw during the fourth leg of the eighth set to ask for a heckler to be removed.

Once play resumed, the Welshman had two match darts, but failed to land either as Smith forced a decider.

Appearing to reference the incident after the match, Price posted ‘cheats’ with a thumbs up emoji on his Instagram story.

An early break of throw and then a 126 check-out on the bullseye put ‘The Bully Boy’ on the brink before he clinched the set 3-1 to deliver a hard-earned victory over the world number one.

However, Price has vowed to come back stronger following this latest defeat.

 

It’s now time for the @OfficialPDC to take action not only over the vile xenophobic abuse that @Gezzyprice has faced but also the unpleasant scenes in the crowd.https://t.co/GfSdr51UkH

— David Owens (@asoundreaction) January 2, 2022

“Absolutely gutted to go out in the last 8 of the World Championships having worked so hard the last few months,” Price wrote on his Instagram story.

“So proud of myself for just being me and playing the best I can even with all the hurdles in front of me.

“I will get stronger, I will come back better, I will practice harder, I will sacrifice more, I will succeed. I will do everything it takes to be the best.

“I will be back. CLASS IS PERMANENT.”

Smith hit 16 180s with an average of just over 101 and speaking to Sky Sports following his win, the ninth seed said: ‘I just kept saying to myself ‘just focus on everything you have been working on over the last 12 months’.

‘I felt like I was in control and knew if I could produce it in the last set, then I would be OK then.’

On the heckling of Price, who is often the target of the boo-boys, Smith said: ‘Someone at the back kept shouting my name, and it was putting me off as well.

 

Imagine paying your money to witness an incredible game & @Gezzyprice hitting a 9-darter. Yet, “fans” still abuse him.. weird over the bridge mentality. Worst fans I’ve seen at a WC this year. https://t.co/EoAQCh6iwM

— Nick Stephens (@NickStephensx) January 2, 2022

‘As it was getting to a tighter game, Gezzy (Price) started hearing it more and more, but he has proved now for the last few years that he loves being the pantomime villain.’

The final takes place at Alexandra Palace on Monday.

In the first semi-final match of the evening, England’s Smith beat compatriot James Wade 6-3 to reach his second world championship final.

Scotland’s Wright prevailed 6-4 over compatriot Gary Anderson to make his third final appearance.