Iceman Price keeps his cool after O’Connor’s brain-freeze at PDC

• Irishman throws at double 1 instead of double 2
• ‘Sometimes you need a bit of luck,’ says Price

If Gerwyn Price ends up as world champion on New Year’s Day, he may find his mind wandering back to this night, this game and one dart in particular. The bare facts will state that Price, the world No 3 and second favourite, came through his opening test in five narrow sets against Ireland’s Willie O’Connor. But they will scarcely hint at this fraught and bizarre feat of escapology or the disastrous misjudgment that handed him a fortuitous reprieve.

As O’Connor stepped up with four to get and three darts in hand, all Price could do was watch. The deciding set was tied at 2-2 and the Welshman stood on the brink of an ignominious exit. Defying his spectacular pre-tournament form, he had played abysmally. His record of two wins in five world championship appearances was about to become two in six. Questions would surely be asked about his mettle. Meanwhile, with the second, third and fourth seeds eliminated, the tournament would be in danger of becoming a Michael van Gerwen procession.

Related: Gerwyn Price: ‘I was painted as the pantomime villain of darts’

Related: Fallon Sherrock: the quiet history-maker letting her darts do the talking

Continue reading...