By David Williams
Gerwyn Price has warned his world title rivals he has plenty of room for improvement as he bids to defend his crown this week.
The Welsh world No.1 is preparing to start his World Darts Championship title defence on Wednesday, aiming to brush aside all challengers as he did 12 months ago in an empty Alexandra Palace.
Price’s stunning triumph last year – when he captured his first world title – capped a remarkable seven-year rise from winning his PDC Tour Card.
While there have been challenges over the past season – not least having to miss out on the Premier League due to a positive Covid-19 test – he has retained his form and underlined his status as the world’s top player.
A hugely impressive Grand Slam title in Wolverhampton last month was a timely reminder to the World Championship pretenders that he is still very much the man to beat ahead of the Christmas-time darting extravaganza.
But even while enjoying such lofty heights at present, the Iceman is adamant that the best is yet to come.
“If you think I’m the finished article, I’m nowhere near the finished article,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve only been playing darts for nine years, in the PDC for seven years. There’s a hell of a lot more to come from me. I’ve a lot more in the tank.
!
Throwback to last year when Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting just couldn’t miss on the ton-plus checkouts, breaking a World Championship record of 13 between them!
What a game pic.twitter.com/ya2QnVR1aF
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 10, 2021
“I will become a lot more consistent. I will become a lot more dominant over the next couple of years, I believe, because I’m nowhere near where I want to be in terms of being consistent at the game.
“Give me another two or three years, I think I’ll be a lot more dominant than what I am now – even though I’m a world champ and a world number one.
“But in another two or three years’ time, I’ll be a lot more confident, a lot more consistent. I think I can dominate a bit more then, in the coming years.”
So what could that domination look like? Akin to Michael van Gerwen five years ago? Or Phil Taylor during his prime?
“I probably think more like Phil Taylor,” Price answers.
“Michael was dominant, but he wasn’t winning every single event. Don’t get me wrong, he has won every event. But he wasn’t dominant in every event, every year like Phil was. I’ll probably look to get more towards a Phil Taylor-type dominance.”
There has been a debate over the past year as to who is the best player in the world. Price brings his obvious credentials, but Peter Wright has been majestic at times, and Michael van Gerwen has shown flashes of his brilliance of old.
Price’s fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton has also enjoyed a stunning year, claiming four major titles.
World Championship
It’s December which means the PDC Darts World Championships is around the corner…
Will Gerwyn Price retain the trophy after winning his first title last year…#PDC #Darts #WorldChampionships pic.twitter.com/m17y9khdh8
— Geoff Banks Online (@BetGeoffBanks) December 14, 2021
“In my mind, I am a world champ, I am a world number one, and I am the best player in the world,” Price states.
“But I’m sure if you speak to Michael, if you speak to Peter, if you speak to Jonny, everyone is going to say the same thing.
“But talk is cheap. I have an opinion, you can have your opinion, somebody else can have their opinion. But you need to back it up on the board.”
Throughout his stunning ascent, Price was the hunter, chasing down the world’s elite. Now that he has reached the sport’s summit, he is reluctant to give up that position.
He has grown accustomed to his status as world number one over the past year.
“Obviously it’s been different,” he reflects.
“The first part of the year, we didn’t have crowds and didn’t have anyone there. So being called out as a world champ and a world number one, it wasn’t quite what I thought [it would be]. But then when the crowds came back, it felt a bit better. Obviously I’m there to be shot at, but which player isn’t?
“I think it’s more positive than anything, knowing that I’m at the top of the tree, and that I’m the reigning world champ. Especially when I’m playing the likes of Peter, Michael, it’s in the back of their head more than anything that I am a world champ and I am world number one.
“It’s nice to be where I am, it’s a good place. I’m full of confidence, but I don’t feel like I’m under any extra pressure.”
And he knows that going to the Ally Pally will be different this year, as he is announced to the crowds as the reigning champion of the world.
“This year is obviously going to be crowds back again. I just hope that I get a little bit of respect that I think I deserve. That I’m not put off my game and get put out of the tournament because of the crowd.
“I’m just going to get there, enjoy it, hopefully get through the first round, enjoy Christmas and come back full of confidence.
“There’s nothing you can do really, apart from trying to deal with it (booing) the best you can, which I think I’ve done well in doing over the past couple of years. I’m experienced at the boos and the way the crowd have been. I’ve dealt with them well over the past couple of years.
“Obviously I don’t like it. It doesn’t help. But what can you do? I just want to concentrate, do the best I can, and as long as I take my chances and start well in games, try and keep the crowd out of the game. But that’s easier said than done sometimes.
“I’m definitely looking forward to them being there this year. But hopefully they can take it easy on me a little bit, and give me a chance to play some darts.”