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Darts star was forced to apologise in lengthy statement over behaviour in ill-tempered clash
Gerwyn Price is no stranger to controversies on the oche – and that was evident during his defeat to Peter Wright in December 2019. The Welshman suffered a 6-3 semi-final defeat in the 2020 World Championship in an ill-tempered match filled with needle. Price celebrated in Wright’s face before apologising for his over-the-top behaviourRex Wright went into the clash knowing victory would see him given the chance to exact revenge on Michael van Gerwen following his 2014 final loss at Alexandra Palace. As for Price, he was bidding to reach his first final at the famous venue, but it all went wrong for the ‘Iceman’. Price had already been dubbed as the ‘Villain of Ally Pally’ in the build-up to the match, having already hit out at Simon Whitlock. Speaking after their fourth round battle, the 40-year-old labelled the Australian star as ‘pathetic’ as he accused him of slow play. Wright was already messing with Price’s mind ahead of their match after predicting he would lose 5-2 to quarter-final opponent Glen Durrant. It led to the pair jokingly predicting they would beat the other 6-0 in their last-four clash – with Wright taking the first set and tapping his rival on the arm to show there would be no whitewash. Price them immediately levelled up the set, where he proceeded to wildly celebrate in the face of ‘Snakebite’. But in the end, it was Wright who edged out the victory, who then was snubbed of a handshake by an agitated Price. Hitting out at Price’s antics, Wright told Sky Sports: “Before the match me and Gezzy were winding each other up. Wright beat Price 6-3 in their semi-final clash, before beating Van Gerwen in the finalGetty Images - Getty ‘Snakebite’ got in Price’s head – leading to his rival snubbing his handshake offerSky Sports “He said he was going to win the first two sets and I would change darts. “I like him, but I don’t appreciate what he did. He wanted me to concentrate and I did, there you go, you lost.” His comments led Price to take to social media in a now-deleted post, where he insisted he’s not obliged to shake any person’s hand, before insisting Wright was ‘out of order’ by playing mind games. Upon reflection, he then took to X to issue a lengthy apology over his actions. The 2021 world champion said: “I’ve had time to reflect on last night’s game and personally I’m peed off with myself I let myself my fans and my family down in the biggest game of my career and for letting Peter get to me. “I’ve been in this position before in games, but never in a World Championship semi-final. Price often plays up to his pantomime villain role at Alexandra PalaceGetty “I over reacted to what Peter did after set one. It might of been banter, but I was so in the zone and just missed a load of set darts and I wasn’t ready for what he did. “I will learn and everyone makes mistakes, but I’m still new to this and still learning. “I apologise to everyone who thinks I’ve done wrong and yeah maybe I was a bit OTT. “It’s a difficult place up on that stage and sometimes emotions get the better of you. “I also apologise for not shaking his hand, it’s not a rule, but should of bit my tongue done it and walked off, at the time I just wanted to get off the stage and get home as you can imagine. “It’s been a tough year for me and to come out at the end of it playing as well as I have I should be really proud. “I have personally apologised to Peter for my reactions. I wish Peter and Michael all the best in the final tomorrow night. Look forward to 2020.” Price then again took to social media to share a WhatsApp exchange he had with Wright, with the duo looking to put the incident behind them. Wright, meanwhile, apologised to Price for his part in the fall-out, with a message having been passed on via his wife, Jo. In his note to Price, Wright said: “Sorry for being a (clown emoji) in the first set. I understand now and I shouldn’t of done nothing to you sorry. “I think your [sic] class and proved to the whole world you are and you and your family have gone through so much s*** like we have. “So I hope we can still be friends as I would still class you as mine.
Gerwyn Price is no stranger to controversies on the oche – and that was evident during his defeat to Peter Wright in December 2019.
The Welshman suffered a 6-3 semi-final defeat in the 2020 World Championship in an ill-tempered match filled with needle.
Wright went into the clash knowing victory would see him given the chance to exact revenge on Michael van Gerwen following his 2014 final loss at Alexandra Palace.
As for Price, he was bidding to reach his first final at the famous venue, but it all went wrong for the ‘Iceman’.
Price had already been dubbed as the ‘Villain of Ally Pally’ in the build-up to the match, having already hit out at Simon Whitlock.
Speaking after their fourth round battle, the 40-year-old labelled the Australian star as ‘pathetic’ as he accused him of slow play.
Wright was already messing with Price’s mind ahead of their match after predicting he would lose 5-2 to quarter-final opponent Glen Durrant.
It led to the pair jokingly predicting they would beat the other 6-0 in their last-four clash – with Wright taking the first set and tapping his rival on the arm to show there would be no whitewash.
Price them immediately levelled up the set, where he proceeded to wildly celebrate in the face of ‘Snakebite’.
But in the end, it was Wright who edged out the victory, who then was snubbed of a handshake by an agitated Price.
Hitting out at Price’s antics, Wright told Sky Sports: “Before the match me and Gezzy were winding each other up.
“He said he was going to win the first two sets and I would change darts.
“I like him, but I don’t appreciate what he did. He wanted me to concentrate and I did, there you go, you lost.”
His comments led Price to take to social media in a now-deleted post, where he insisted he’s not obliged to shake any person’s hand, before insisting Wright was ‘out of order’ by playing mind games.
Upon reflection, he then took to X to issue a lengthy apology over his actions.
The 2021 world champion said: “I’ve had time to reflect on last night’s game and personally I’m peed off with myself I let myself my fans and my family down in the biggest game of my career and for letting Peter get to me.
“I’ve been in this position before in games, but never in a World Championship semi-final.
“I over reacted to what Peter did after set one. It might of been banter, but I was so in the zone and just missed a load of set darts and I wasn’t ready for what he did.
“I will learn and everyone makes mistakes, but I’m still new to this and still learning.
“I apologise to everyone who thinks I’ve done wrong and yeah maybe I was a bit OTT.
“It’s a difficult place up on that stage and sometimes emotions get the better of you.
“I also apologise for not shaking his hand, it’s not a rule, but should of bit my tongue done it and walked off, at the time I just wanted to get off the stage and get home as you can imagine.
“It’s been a tough year for me and to come out at the end of it playing as well as I have I should be really proud.
“I have personally apologised to Peter for my reactions. I wish Peter and Michael all the best in the final tomorrow night. Look forward to 2020.”
Price then again took to social media to share a WhatsApp exchange he had with Wright, with the duo looking to put the incident behind them.
Wright, meanwhile, apologised to Price for his part in the fall-out, with a message having been passed on via his wife, Jo.
In his note to Price, Wright said: “Sorry for being a (clown emoji) in the first set. I understand now and I shouldn’t of done nothing to you sorry.
“I think your [sic] class and proved to the whole world you are and you and your family have gone through so much s*** like we have.
“So I hope we can still be friends as I would still class you as mine.
